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WSfBm 

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After a few days she began to get acquainted with some of the girls. 


(Modern Cinderella) 


(Page 164) 





A MODERN CINDERELLA 


BY 



AMANDA M. DOUGLAS m 

AUTHOR OF "THE GIRLS AT feS 
MT. MORRIS’,’ “SHERBURNE 
SERIES? "A LITTLE GIRL SERIES? UJ 


ETC. 



COPYRIGHT 1913 
BY 

M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY 


JAN -2 1914 

h-i r 

©CLA3G2267 




CONTENTS 


CHAPTER 

L In The Palace 

PAGE 

18 

ii. 

Jack 

18 

hi. 

Playing Hookey .... 

37 

IY. 

Poor Cinderella .... 

59 

V. 

The Fairy Godmother , . 

77 

VI. 

Dr. Richards 

100 

VII. 

A Day to be Remembered . 

125 

VIII. 

A New Glimpse of Servitude 

149 

IX. 

The Little Thorns . . , 

170 

X. 

On The Border of Tragedy 

189 

XI. 

The Ark of Love .... 

212 

XII. 

A Wonderful Happening 

235 

XIII. 

A New Atmosphere . . . 

251 

XIV. 

The Real Fairyland . . . 

285 




A MODERN CINDERELLA 


CHAPTER I 

AT THE PALACE 

“You may stay down here until nine 
o’clock if youlike,” said Bridget. “It’s awful 
cold upstairs. Be sure to wrap yourself good 
in the old blanket. And put a little coal on 
the range. If you let my fire go out, I’ll 
skin you alive.” 

When Marilla first heard that threat she 
shuddered all over. If you scratched a 
little bit of skin off it hurt dreadfully. But 
Bridget never did it. Sometimes she hit 
her a slap on the shoulder. She couldn’t 
even bear to skin a rabbit. “What do you 
mean by it?” Marilla gained courage to ask 
once, when she came to feel at home. 

“Oh, I don’t know. My mother used to 
say it. Sometimes she took a strap to us, but 
she wasn’t ever real hard.” 


2 


A Modern Cinderella 


Marilla knew about the strap in Bethany 
Home though she didn’t often get it. 

“I’ll remember about the fire.” 

“Good night!” Bridget was off. 

She always took two or three evenings 
out in the week and had Sunday afternoon 
instead of Thursday because they had late 
dinners during the week. She was very 
excellent help, so Mrs. Borden let her have 
her own way. 

It was nice and warm in the kitchen; clean, 
too. Bridget couldn’t abide a dirty kitchen. 
Marilla had wiped the dishes, scoured out 
the sink and set the chairs straight around. 
It was a basement kitchen with a dining room 
above. The front was the furnace cellar, 
the middle for vegetables and what Bridget 
called truck. 

Marilla sat in the little old rocking chair 
and put her feet on the oven hearth. It was 
very nice to rock to and fro and no babies to 
tend nor Jack to bother with. She sang a 
few hymns she knew, she said over several, 
little poems she had learned and spelled a 
few words. Bridget had turned the gas low, 
and she couldn’t reach it without getting on 


At The Palace 


3 

a chair or she could have read. So she told 
herself a story that she had read. 

It was very comfortable. She was getting 
a bit sleepy. Suppose she took a teeny nap as 
she did sometimes when she was waiting 
for Bridget. So she shook up the old cushion, 
brought up the stool, sat on that and laid 
her head in the chair. And now she wasn't 
a bit sleepy. She thought of the stove and 
put on some coal, lest she might fall asleep. 

She hoped it would be warmer tomorrow 
when she took out the twins. Then she would 
venture to stop at the book store window and 
look at the pictures on the magazine covers. 
There was a baby that looked so like the twins 
it made her laugh. She didn't think the twins 
pretty at all. They had round chubby faces 
and almost round eyes, and mouths that 
looked as if they were just ready to whistle, 
and brown fuzzy hair without a bit of curl 
in it. But they were good, “as good as 
kittens,” their mother said. She did so 
wish she had a kitten. She had brought such 
a pretty one from the store one day, a real 
maltese with black whiskers, but Bridget 


4 


A Modern Cinderella 


said she couldn’t have a cat forever round 
under her feet and made her take it back. 

Jack was past five and very pretty, but 
bad as he could be. Bridget said he was a 
“holy terror,” but she thought holiness was 
goodness and didn’t see the connection. He 
was a terror, that any one could see. 

There was a queer shady look in the cor- 
ners. She wasn’t a bit afraid. The children at 
Bethany Home weren’t allowed to be. She 
liked this a great deal better. She wasn’t 
compelled to eat her whole breakfast off of 
oatmeal, and always had such lovely desserts 
for dinner. And sometimes Mrs. Borden 
gave her and Jack a banana or a bit of candy. 
Oh, yes, she would much rather live here 
even if Jack was bad and pinched her occasion- 
ally though his mother slapped him for it, or 
pinched him back real hard. 

What made this lovely, rosy, golden light 
in the room? It was like a soft sunset. She 
had been saying over a lot of Mother Goose 
rhymes; of course she was too old for such 
nonsense and Jack didn’t like them. And in 
“One, two, buckle my shoe,” she wondered 
which she liked best: “Nineteen, twenty, 


At The Palace 


5 


my stomach's empty," or “nineteen, twenty, 
I've got a plenty." That was Bethany 
Home where you only had so much for sup- 
per and one little cracker. And here there 
was plenty. It made her laugh. 

And then suddenly there was a pretty little 
woman in the room dressed in something soft 
and shining and in her hand she held a stick 
with a bunch of gay bows at the end. She 
was so sweet and smiling that Marilla couldn't 
feel afraid. 

“You don't know me, Cinderella?" she 
began, looking at the child. 

“Oh, that isn't my name." 

“You don't sit in the ashes any more but 
I dare say you brush up and carry them out 
in the morning. But I don't find Cinderellas 
often at this time of night. 

‘ T wish I was Cinderella. I have a little foot 
though, only it don't look so in these big 
brogans. I put some soles inside of them, 
bits of velvet carpet and they keep my feet 
nice and warm. I do think if the glass slipper 
wasn't too teeny weeny I could wear it." 

“You're a cute one. About the soles, now. 
Most children haven't any useful ideas," and 


6 A Modern Cinderella 


she laughed. “I knew who you were; now can 
you guess who I am?” 

“Why if I was Cinderella you’d be a fairy 
godmother. But there ain’t any such things; 
nor Santa Claus. I like the stories about ’em 
and I’m awful sorry. I’m only Mrs. Borden’s 
bound-out girl, but I like it here.” 

“You think so?” She gave the most curious, 
delightful laugh. “You are Cinderella and 
I am the fairy godmother.” 

Marilla sprang up and studied her. She 
was so pretty and her gown looked as if 
it was sprinkled with diamond dust. She had 
never seen any one like her, but at twelve 
her range of observation had been rather 
limited. 

“Well, what do you think of me?” 

Marilla stood wide eyed and speechless. 

“Why — you are very beautiful. Oh, I wish 
you were a fairy godmother! I’d like to go 
to fairy land. I don’t think any one would 
mind much, but I do believe the twins would 
care. Bridget says there isn’t any such thing 
and then she tells about a little girl who was 
toted away and had to stay seven years.” 

“You couldn’t stay that long, and times 


At The Palace 


7 


have changed, and you have no envious 
sisters. You’re a rather lonely little body 
with no father or mother.” 

“Oh, how did you know that?” 

She laughed, the softest, merriest laugh. 

Marilla looked and looked, the little body 
was so sweet and mysterious. 

“Oh, fairy godmothers know a great many 
things. They keep watch over the Cinderellas 
and then when they find one to their liking 
they appear to her, and then strange things 
happen.” 

“Yes they are strange,” said the little 
girl. 

“Would you like to go to the ball?” 

“Oh! Why I’m afraid I wouldn’t know 
what to do,” hesitatingly, “I’ve never seen 
a ball.” 

“You can dance. I saw you dancing with 
an organ grinder.” 

“Oh, yes, I can dance that way, but — ” 

“Would you like to go?” 

“Oh, wouldn’t I!” Manila’s eyes shone with 
delight. “If you were a fairy godmother you 
could put me in some clothes.” 


8 A Modern Cinderella 


Marilla didn’t believe in it at all, but it 
was very funny. 

“Then just step out here.” 

She did with the strangest sort of feeling. 
The fairy touched her with the wand. Her 
clothes fell in a heap. The big shoes dropped 
off. There was a shimmery pink silk frock with 
lace and ribbons and the daintiest pink kid 
slippers with diamond buckles and pink silk 
stockings with lovely clocks. She went danc- 
ing around the kitchen light as a feather, her 
eyes shining, her cheeks like roses, her lips 
full of smiles. She was fairly bewitched. 

“You’ll do,” exclaimed godmother, and 
she threw a beautiful white cloak about her. 

“But we haven’t a pumpkin in the house 
and Bridget catches all the mice and burns 
them up. So you can’t make a carriage — ” 

“There’s one at the door.” The hall seemed 
all alight and they went out. Yes, there 
was a coach with lamps on both sides, two 
horses and a driver, besides a footman who 
helped them in with a fine air, and drove off 
as gay as if it was Christmas night, though it 
were really March. 

The streets were alight, the windows shining 



lit 






■m 




: 










.(Modern Cinderella, Page 8) 




At The Palace 


9 


in splendor. Marilla had never seen anything 
like it. Presently they stopped at what seemed 
to the little girl a great palace with broad 
white marble steps and tall carved columns 
lighted by myriads of colored lights and the 
vestibule was hung with vines. There were 
statues standing round that looked like real 
people only they were so white from top 
to toe. Then they went up another beauti- 
ful stairway that led to a gallery where 
there were numbers of inviting little rooms, 
and throngs of elegantly dressed people, not 
any larger than boys and girls. A maid took 
off their wraps, and brushed Manila’s hair 
and it fell in golden rings all over her head. 

“What beautiful hair,” she exclaimed, “just 
like threads of silk. You must let it grow long. 
And such lovely eyes; but she’s thin.” 

“Yes, rather,” said godmother, “But she 
has dancing feet. She’s a real Cinderella.” 

“There’s so many of them and only one 
Prince. What a pity!” 

“But each has her turn, and they are very 
happy.” 

Then Marilla glanced around the gallery. 
That was well lighted and had a cushioned 


io A Modern Cinderella 

seat against the wall. Groups were sitting 
together or rambling about. And a great cir- 
cular room, down stairs lighted by a mag- 
nificent chandelier whose prisms seemed in 
constant motion and rayed off every imagin- 
able color with a faint musical sound. 

“Oh! oh! oh!” and her eyes were full of 
tears though her lips smiled. 

“Now we will go down,” said godmother. 

That was by another way. But this place 
was a perfect land of delight. She had never 
read of anything like it, but the Arabian 
Nights had not come in her way. Some were 
dancing about informally, some talking and 
laughing. There were the most elegantly 
attired boys in silks and velvets made in all 
pretty fashions. Silk stockings and light 
colored pumps, jackets trimmed with frills 
of lace, some with satin trousers wide enough 
for petticoats at the bottom and blue velvet 
sailor collars. There was no end of fancy at- 
tire. 

“This is to be your knight, Sir Aldred. And 
this is the new Cinderella. Take good care 
of her until the Prince comes.” 

He bowed with most enchanting grace. 


At The Palace 


1 1 

“There are so many of them!” he said, as 
he took her hand, “But she is the prettiest 
of them all.” 

The knight gave her hand a little squeeze 
and she turned rosy red. 

“Come this way,” and he led her along. It 
was odd to be introduced as Cinderella, but 
everybody was so sweet and cordial that she 
kept smiling and bowing. 

Presently a cluster of bells sounded and 
everybody fell into line along the outer edge 
of the beautiful building. It was a grand 
march and the tapping of the feet seemed 
like an encore to the music. Then the first 
couple stepped out on the floor. Everybody 
dances in fairy land that is presided over by 
godmothers. Oh, it was just enchanting! 

“Are you tired?” Sir Aldred asked pres- 
ently. 

“Oh, no, I never imagined anything so 
utterly delightful. And the splendid dressing. 
Are there many Cinderellas here?” a little 
timidly. 

“Oh, yes. They love to come, but the new 
one always dances with the Prince. He will 
come in presently for you.” 


12 A Modern Cinderella 


“Oh, I shall feel afraid.” She really felt 
tears rushing to her eyes. 

“No, you will not, for he is truly most de- 
lightful, a regular Prince Charming. You see, 
it is different in fairy land. You forget for 
awhile who you have been. That’s the charm 
of it. And you’re such a lovely dancer.” 

“And — and — is there any glass slipper?” 

She seemed to remember something about 
that. 

“That’s in the story. The Prince isn’t 
looking for a wife now. And you couldn’t 
dancein a stiff glass slipper. It might shiver to 
pieces. What pretty little feet you have! And 
such a lovely curly head.” 

It seemed quite delightful to be praised 
and she was glad she pleased him. 

Then there was a curious quivering about 
the place as if every one was drawing a long 
breath, and the lights were mysterious, while 
all the little bells twinkled. And there stood 
the Prince. 

He was taller than any of the others and 
very handsome. As for his attire, I couldn’t 
begin to describe it, it was so resplendent 
with silk and velvet and jewels. 


At The Palace 


13 

Sir Aldred led the little lady up to him and 
said: “This is Cinderella.” 

The Prince bowed and pressed a kiss upon 
her hand and she was glad it was lily white 
and not rough and red. 

“I am very glad you are here Cinderella, 
I hope you will have a happy time. You 
look so.” 

“Oh I know I shall.” She blushed and cast 
her eyes down in such a sweet fashion that 
he really longed to kiss the lids. 

Then the music commenced and they 
stepped out as if they had danced together 
all their lives. The others formed a circle and 
went round them, bowing as they passed. 
There were such fascinating figures, changing 
frequently, each one prettier than the last. 
She wondered how they could remember; how 
she could do it. They all looked so lovely. 
It certainly was fairy land. 

Now and then the Prince bent over and 
said something charming to her as if she had 
been a fine lady and the odd thing was that 
she could answer him readily. The music 
began to go slower and died in softest melody. 
Then he turned and said — 


14 A Modern Cinderella 

“Now we will go out and have some re- 
freshments. You must be tired after all 
this dancing, but you don’t look it at all.” 

“Oh, I feel as if I could dance all night. I 
believe I am bewitched.” 

He gave her the sweetest smile that any 
Cinderella ever had. 

“I am very glad. Sometimes they think 
of the ashes and cinders and wonder whether 
the pleasure will last. Then the lightness 
goes out of their feet and the smiles from their 
rosy lips. The thing is to enjoy it while you 
are here. You are a very delightful Cinderella; 
I must ask godmother to keep a watch over 
you. I hope to meet you again.” 

The banquet room was beautiful as well; 
there was a great oval table with a chandelier 
shedding a thousand lights from the gorgeous 
prisms. Underneath was a tiny lake full of 
blooming water lillies. There were mounds of 
fruit and flowers, nuts from all over the world, 
piles of cake, candied fruit, ices made in all 
kinds of shape. The most beautiful plates 
and dishes, glass and crystal and servants 
piling up dainties and pouring out fragrant 
drinks. 


At The Palace 


i5 


At the head sat the Prince and Cinderella. 
He rose and drank to her health and good 
fortune with the most exquisite verse and 
Sir Aldred returned with a charming reply. 
Certainly there were no envious or jealous 
sisters. Every one was so merry and talked 
with his or her neighbor, and every girl had 
a knight who was devoted to her. Were they 
all Cinderellas, and had the Prince been as 
delightful to them? Every face beamed with 
wondrous satisfaction. 

“But I don’t understand it at all,” and she 
glanced up wonderingly. 

“Oh, you don’t have to in fairy land. You 
just take all the pleasure that comes. You are 
not thinking of all the tomorrows. There will 
be something nice and pleasant if you look 
for it in the right place. For little Cinderella, 
we must not be looking for tomorrow’s joy. 
You cannot find them tonight. There are 
flowers that fold their leaves but will open 
again tomorrow. You would be short sighted 
to sit down and cry tonight about it.” 

Marilla was a good deal puzzled. 

“You must be a happy little Cinderella 
when you have been to fairy land. You must 


1 6 A Modern Cinderella 


not lose faith in fairy godmothers. They come 
at unexpected times and in different guise. 
And that is what keeps the world bright 
and the heart young, and sometime the real 
Prince comes.” 

Her heart beat with a mysterious joy. She 
was full of gladness. 

Then they walked around and all the other 
Cinderellas seemed so happy when he smiled 
and spoke to them. The beautiful music went 
on. Here and there groups were dancing again. 

And then it seemed as if a giant caught her 
and almost shook her to pieces, and the beau- 
tiful lights wavered and vanished. She was 
brought upon her feet with a force that would 
have shivered any glass slipper. 

“You little huzzy! What are you doing up 
this time of night, instead of asleep in 
bed? Rouse up! rouse up! Lucky you didn’t 
let my fire go out this cold night! Come, 
hustle !” 

There seemed a sort of crash. Marilla 
glanced around with half-opened eyes. Yes, 
this was the old kitchen. There was Bridget 
with the lighted end of a candle in the tin 
candlestick. 


At The Palace 


i7 


“Come! get along, sleepy head. She gave 
herapushup the stairs and through the halls, 
half scolding her but not cross. It’s a wonder 
the gobble sirs didn’t come after you. If 
you’d been carried off now! It’s awful cold. 
I’d sleep in my stockings and they’ll be good 
and warm in the morning.” 

Marilla hustled off her clothes, wrapped 
herself in an old blanket and tumbled into 
bed in a little heap. But there was some 
mysterious music floating through her brain 
and a fragrance in the air. The Prince smiled 
down into her eyes, and the fairy godmother 
she should always believe in. For she had 
been to real fairy land; that was the truth. 


CHAPTER II 


JACK 

The Bordens were nice, ordinary people 
enjoying life in a commonplace way. There was 
Mr. Jack Borden, the junior partner in a 
fairly successful law firm, his wife an averagely 
nice, sensible body, Miss Florence, her 
husband’s sister, a bright girl of three and 
twenty, whose lover was in South America 
on a five years’ contract, with one year yet 
to serve. 

After the twins were born they tried a 
grown nurse-maid who bored them by sit- 
ting around when she was upstairs and 
making many excuses to get down to the 
kitchen, where she disputed with Bridget who 
declared one or the other of them must go, 
and they simply could not give up Bridget. 
The babies slept a good deal of the time and 
only cried when they were hungry. The mother 
and aunt thought them the dearest things and 
their father was as proud of them as a man 
could well be. If it wasn’t for giving them 


J ack 1 9 

an airing now and then — but when it came 
pleasant weather they must be taken out. 

Aunt Hetty Vanderveer who was queer 
and going on to eighty, who couldn't live 
with a relative for they always wanted to 
borrow her money, got tangled up in a house 
on which she had a mortgage, and called her 
grandnephew, Mr. John Borden to her rescue. 
She took the house and persuaded them to 
come there, and she would live with them 
on certain conditions. She was to have the 
third floor front room and the store room, get 
her breakfast and tea and take dinner with 
them though it was their luncheon. Night 
dinners she despised. She entertained her- 
self sewing patchwork, a dressmaker sent 
her bags of silk pieces; knitting baby socks 
and stockings and reading novels. They did 
get along very well though it made a good 
deal of running up and down. 

The spare room and Bridget's room was 
on this floor. On the second, two sleeping 
chambers, the nusery and the bath. Down 
stairs a long parlor and a dining room, with 
a basement kitchen which Bridget declared 
she liked above all things. A woman came to 


20 A Modern Cinderella 


do the washing and ironing, Bridget’s nephew 
took out the ashes and swept the stoop and 
sidewalk. Bridget was a strong, healthy, 
good natured Irish woman when you didn’t 
meddle with her, and the ladies were very 
glad not to meddle. But some one for the 
babies they must have. 

One day a friend came in for a subscription 
to some of her charities and heard the appeal. 

“Now, I’ll tell you just what to do,” she 
said “Go over to the Bethany Home, you take 
the car out to the Melincourt Road that 
passes it. Ask for Mrs. Johnson. They have 
two girls; they put them out when they are 
twelve. And since you only want some one 
to amuse the babies and take them out, and 
she will be growing older all the time, you see^ 
you can bring her up in your ways. Yes, 
that is what I’d do.” 

Mrs. Borden followed the advice. There 
was a stout, rather vacant looking German 
girl, a good worker who delighted in scrubbing 
and scouring and who would make an ex- 
cellent kitchen maid. The other was Marilla 
Bond, an orphan with no relatives that any 
one knew; a fair, nice looking intelligent 


21 


Jack 

child, with light curly hair cropped close, 
rather slim, and with a certain ready, alert 
look that was attractive. 

Mrs. Borden brought her home for a 
month’s trial. She took to the babies at 
once, and Jack took to her. Oddly enough, so 
did Bridget. She had such a quaint sweet 
way of saying, “Yes’m” and “No’m;” she 
did what she was told to do with alacrity, she 
ran up and down stairs on numberless errands. 
She was a very good reader and at first, Jack 
kept her busy in this respect. But she wanted 
to hear about lions and tigers and men killing 
them and Indian fights and matters that 
didn’t please the little girl at all. Mother 
Goose was babyish. 

The twins sat on a blanket on the floor 
and sometimes rolled around a little. She 
played with them, talked to them and they 
really listened to the stories that she acted 
off and laughed gleefully. 

“They certainly are intelligent,” Aunt 
Florence said with pride. 

On nice sunny days when it was not very 
cold she took them out in the carriage. They 
were carried down and put in it, then brought 


22 A Modern Cinderella 


up again. Their mother “wasn't going to 
have any nurse breaking their backs by a 
fall.” 

So when the month of probation was ended, 
Marilla was bound to Mr. and Mrs. John 
Borden, to be clothed and fed and sent to 
school for half a year. She really did like her 
new home. Only if it wasn’t for Jack! He 
pinched her sometimes, and once he kicked 
her but his mother gave him a good trouncing. 

The twins had some bread and milk and 
were put to bed at six. Then Cinderella went 
down stairs but not to sit in the ashes. She 
did numerous things for Bridget and they had 
a cozy dinner together, always a dessert, and 
they were so good. 

“If Jack only wouldn’t run away,” she 
said. “You see I can’t leave the babies, and 
I am so afraid he will get lost.” 

“Let him get lost then; that’ll bring his 
mother to her senses, and you tell her.” 

He did come near it one day. She took the 
babies home and explained and then said 
she would go and find him. 

Aunt Florence went with her. They had 
quite a long search and finally asked the 


Jack 23 

policeman, who said: “there was a little boy 
down here on a stoop, crying.” 

Jack, sure enough, and he was very glad to 
be found. His mother kept him in the house 
for two days and then he promised to be very 
good. 

“Now, if you make any trouble you shall 
not go out for a whole week.” 

The babies hadn’t gone much farther than 
“agoo, agoo,” but Marilla tried her best to 
make them talk. They each had a rubber doll 
and the child would dance them up and down 
and make them turn somersaults and stand 
on their heads, and invent every sort of gro- 
tesque action. 

Jack was a good looking little fellow and 
had been spoiled in the earlier years. He was 
a little afraid of his father, and sometimes his 
mother would make him mind, but he was 
very full of badness. 

Aunt Florence wanted some silk and twist 
and spools of cotton one morning. 

“You could find your way down to Grand 
street where the stores are, couldn’t you 
Marilla — where we went that Saturday night?” 

“Oh, yes. Down there opposite the park.” 


24 A Modern Cinderella 

“Yes. It’s a big store. Day and Belden. 
I’ll write it out for you and you may take 
my Leggy bag. Be sure and put the change in 
it before you leave the store.” 

“Yes’m,” with her sweet accent. 

“She may take Jack, and the babies will 
have a good long nap. Now Jack, you must be 
very good and mind Marilla, or you shan’t 
go out again for a week.” 

Jack said he would. He looked very pretty 
in his brown coat with its fur collar, and his 
brown mittens. 

“Give me a penny a’cause I’m gonter be 
good.” 

“I’ll wait and see whether you are going 
to good or not.” 

Jack stood it pretty well until they reached 
the little park which was a rather long triangle 
with a few trees in it. Here he made a sudden 
dash and was off like a squirrel. 

Marilla was after him. “Go it sonny,” 
cried a man laughing, but she gained on him 
and took him by the arm with a jerk that 
nearly capsized them both. 

He could not pull away. She marched him 
across the street and found the store, and asked 


J ack 2 5 

for the notion department. There were the 
spools of all kinds. 

“Will you please open the bag and find an 
order in it,” she said in a very nice manner. 

The girl smiled. “Three spools of silk, two 
twist, black cotton number 60, white cotton, 
60, 70 and 80.” 

She put up the order and sent the money 
whizzing to the cash clerk, handing the bag to 
Marilla. 

“What’s that thing like a railroad for?” 
asked Jack, keeping his eyes upon it. 

“That carries the money.” 

“Gee! I wish I had one at home!” 

The change came back. Marilla opened 
the bag to put it in and used both hands. 
Jack was off like a flash, turning here and 
there through the aisles. Clear down to the 
end of the store was a toy department. 
Marilla was almost up to him when he grabbed 
a handful of toys and ran on. 

“Oh, do please stop him!” she cried to the 
clerk. 

Two or three joined the chase. Finding they 
were gaining on him he threw down the 
articles and stamped furiously upon them. 


26 A Modern Cinderella 


“What is all this row?” asked the floor 
walker. 

“The little boy snatched the toys and ran,” 
said the young clerk. 

“Oh, Jack, how could you!” cried Marilla. 

Jack laughed insolently. 

“Is he your brother?” in a sharp tone. 

“I’m only the nurse girl, please, sir,” and 
Marilla began to cry. 

The floor walker shook Jack until he was 
purple in the face. 

“You little thief! You ought to go to the 
Station House. I’ve half a mind to send you!” 

“Oh, please don’t,” pleaded Marilla. She 
stooped to pick up some of the broken pieces. 
“I think his mother will pay for them.” 

“Who’s his mother?” 

“Mrs. John Borden, 138 Arch Street.” 

“What brought you in the store.” 

“I was sent to buy some things. They are 
in this bag, and — the change.” 

A gentleman came up to inquire into the 
matter. 

“These children ought to be taught a 
lesson. That Granford boy carried off an 
expensive toy the other night and I sent a 


27 


Jack 

note to his mother that brought her to terms 
at once. See what is the value of these things.” 

The counter girl began to place the pieces 
together and examine the marks. 

“It is — sixty-seven cents.” 

“That’s too much. We’ll send a note to his 
mother, and young sir, if you dare to come 
in this store again, we’ll send you to jail, I 
think.” 

Quite a crowd had collected. One lady 
looked at him sharply. 

“Why, it’s little Jack Borden,” she said. 
“What’s the matter?” 

Marilla told the story over. 

“I don’t care,” Jack flung out. “I just 
stamped on the old things.” 

“Take that to Mrs. Borden,” and the man 
handed Marilla a folded note. “Now, I’ll see 
you out, young sir.” 

Marilla trembled from head to foot. She 
was very much ashamed though none of it 
had been her fault. But what would Mrs. 
Borden say? What if Mrs. Borden should 
send her back to the Bethany Home! Oh, she 
did not want to go. But she could not manage 
Jack. 


28 A Modern Cinderella 


The young man stopped short when they 
reached the house, “I ain’t cornin’ in just 
now,” he said decidedly. 

When Marilla was in the house she always 
answered the door bell. Bridget protested she 
could not run up and down so much and she 
didn’t always hear it. Miss Florence came 
now. 

“Oh, Marilla, what’s the matter?” 

“Jack has run off down the street. And, oh, 
Miss Florence” — ending in a fit of crying. 

“What is the matter? Did you lose the 
money?” 

“Oh, no, here is everything and the change. 
But Jack — ” 

“Come upstairs and tell us.” Miss Florence 
opened the bag, counted the change, took out 
the parcels and a note. 

“Why, what is this?” 

“The man told me to bring it home. I held 
Jack’s hand tight all the way down to the store 
and gave the girl the bag because I couldn’t 
open it with one hand. She took out the money 
and put in the parcel and gave it to me and 
said, ‘Wait for the change.’ When it came 
she handed it to me and turned away, and when 


2 9 


Jack 

I was putting it in the bag Jack ran off. You 
know how the paths go in and out. I looked 
and looked and saw him over at the toy coun- 
ter, but before I could reach him he snatched 
a lot of things and ran, and the girl went after 
him, too, and then he threw them down and 
stamped on them and ever so many people 
came and the man was very angry ” 

Marilla cried as if her little heart had been 
broken. Miss Florence handed the note to her 
sister who had been listening in amaze. 

“Marilla,” began Florence, “you have done 
the errand very well. Don’t cry, child. We 
shouldn’t have let Jack go with you.” 

Mrs. Borden’s face turned very red. “A 
great fuss about sixty-seven cents. Accidents 
will happen.” 

“But throwing them down and stamping 
on them was no accident, Amy. That child 
is dreadful. He doesn’t mind Marilla when 
he is out of our sight, hardly when he is in it. 
And I don’t know what the babies would do 
without her.” 

They began to cry now. They always cried 
together and lustily. 

“Where’s Jack?” asked his mother. 


30 A Modern Cinderella 

“He ran down the street.” 

“Don’t worry about Jack, Marilla; you go 
down and get the babies’ bread and milk 
ready.” 

Marilla went and of course told the mis- 
hap to Bridget. 

“That young ’un ’ll get in prison some day ; 
you see! He’s a rascal through and through, a 
mean dirty spalpeen, a holy terror! And if 
they set to blaming you, I’ll threaten to leave; 
that I will.” 

“You don’t think they’ll send me back to 
Bethany Home?” in a distressed tone. 

“They’dbebigfools to! I don’t know where 
they’d get another like you. If that Jack was 
mine, I’d skin him alive and hang him out 
bare naked, the mean little thief! And the 
missus knows he’s bad through and through.” 

Marilla took the basin of dinner upstairs. 
The babies had hushed their crying and gave 
a sort of joyous howl at the sight. Florence 
had talked her sister-in-law into sa more 
reasonable view of the case. Then the babies 
were fed and comforted and sab on the blanket 
with playthings about them. They could 


J ack 3 1 

climb up a little by chairs, but they were 
too heavy for much activity. 

Mrs. Borden picked up her slipper and went 
down stairs, opening the front door. Jack was 
slowly sauntering back and she beckoned to 
him. He had begun to think it was feeding 
time as well as the babies. 

“I was gone, to put ’em back — ” he began — 

She took off his pretty coat and then she 
did spank him for good. Meanwhile the bell 
rang for lunch. She put him on a chair in the 
end of the parlor and said — 

“Now you sit there. If you dare to get up 
you’ll get some more. And all the lunch you 
can have will be a piece of bread without any 
butter.” And she left the door open so she 
could see if he ventured down. 

But after the bread he went up stairs and 
straight to Marilla. 

“You old tell tale! You’ll be rid on a rail 
and dumped in the river,” and he kicked at 
her. 

“The man sent a note ” 

“Jack,” interposed his mother sternly. 

Then the babies were bundled up and 
carried down stairs, well wrapped up for their 


32 A Modern Cinderella 

ride. Marilla enjoyed the outing when she 
did’nt have Jack. She went down again by 
the stores. There were two she delighted in, 
book and stationery stores. One window was 
full of magazines and papers, and she read 
bits here and there. She was so fond of 
reading and she would piece out the page she 
read with her own imaginings. She always 
staid out two hours, more when it was pleasant, 
and brought back the babies, rosy and bright 
eyed. 

“Jack,” and his father took him on his 
knee that evening, “you have been a very 
bad boy today. You have been a thief. Sup- 
pose the man had sent you to the Station 
House?” 

“I wouldn’t a’ gone.” 

“Well, you would have had to. Thieves 
break laws and are sent to prison. And there 
you broke up the toys. You must never go in 
a store again without your mother.” 

“M’rilla took me in.” 

“And mother and Auntie supposed they 
could trust you. Now they can’t. You will 
have to be watched and punished, and I am 


Jack 33 

going to do it. There’ll be no more Sunday 
walks with me, either.” 

“Can’t I go alone?” 

“Not until you are a good boy.” 

Jack looked rather sober, but his father 
saw he was not making much impression. And 
presently his mother put him to bed. 

“I really don’t know what to do with Jack,” 
his mother said on her return, taking up her 
sewing. 

“Listen to this,” and Mr. Borden read from 
the paper an account of three boys who had 
managed to enter a grocery store and steal 
some quite valuable stock. Ages, seven, nine 
and ten. 

“I’d rather bury Jack tomorrow than have 
such a thing published about him,” he said. 

“And Jack used to be so nice,” returned 
his mother with a sigh. 

“We’ve indulged him too much, and we 
have idealized childhood too much; we’ve 
laughed at his smart tricks and his saucy re- 
plies, and tried high moral suasion, but 
we must turn over a new leaf. When he is 
bad he must be punished severely enough 

i 


34 A Modern Cinderella 

to make an impression. Are you sure of that 
girl, Marilla?” 

“Yes. She’s truthful and so sweet to the 
babies. Bridget says she wouldn’t even touch 
a piece of cake without asking for it. But I 
think she does sometimes shield Jack. He 
has a nasty way of pinching and I do slap him 
for it. I’m afraid of his pinching the babies. 
But we never do leave him alone with them.” 

“See here,” began Florence, “why not send 
him to Kindergarten. The new term is just 
beginning. I think boys ought to be with 
other boys. And those classes are made so 
entertaining. The many employments take 
a child’s mind off of mischief, and they are 
trained in manners. Oh dear! think, what a 
blessed time we should have!” 

“I don’t know but it is a good idea,” said 
Jack’s father. “He will have to mix with 
children some time, and our training hasn’t 
proved such a brilliant success. Oh, I do want 
him to grow up a nice boy. But boys seem 
an awful risk now-a-days. 1 never knew so 
many youthful criminals.” 

“I’d like to know who that woman was who 


Jack 35 

recognized Jack in the store. That mortifies 
me awfully.’’ 

“And it will get told all over, I know,” 
returned Aunt Florence. 

“Well, children do out grow a good many of 
these disagreeable capers.” 

The next night Mr. Borden brought home 
something in a paper bag and Jack begged 
the bag “to bust,” watching his father as 
he shook out a leather strap cut in thongs 
and said — * 

“Now, Jack, every time you do any naughty, 
ugly thing, I am going to punish you with this 
strap. You must not pinch Marilla or the 
babies, not kick any one nor tell what isn’t 
true. We want you to be a pretty good boy, 
otherwise you will have to be sent to the 
reform school.” 

“I’d like to go to the ’form school.” 

“Not much,” was the comment. 

“Why, I’d run away.” 

“There’s a high fence all around, and you 
couldn’t climb it.” 

“Then I’d holler like fury.” 

“And be put in a dark dungeon.” 


36 A Modern Cinderella 

“There was a man in a story who dug his 
way out. That’s what I’d do.” 

Arguing was useless. He was such a little 
fellow, but fertile in expedients. 

“I don’t want ever to use this strap on my 
little boy. I hope he will be good.” 

“What is good and what is bad.” 

“Come to bed, Jack. You’re getting silly.” 

On Monday morning Jack went to Kin- 
dergarten. The house was like another place. 
And Jack was very much entertained. He 
soon learned what a “punch below the belt” 
meant, and a “biff in the eye” and several 
other fighting terms. 

“And they’re a set of gumps,” he declared. 
“They can’t read right off, they’ve got to 
write it, and I can read most anything and spell 
words, too. But they make pictures and 
lovely things, and sing. Yes, I like to go.” 


CHAPTER III 


PLAYING HOOKEY 

Marilla thought she had lovely times with 
Jack in school, but she did have to run up and 
down so much that some nights her little 
legs fairly ached. But now she took the babies 
out to the big park where she could sit and 
watch the merry children at play and the 
beds of flowers coming out, and there were 
the funny pussy willows and the long tails 
of yellow forsythia and some squirrels run- 
ning around, and birds calling to each other. 
Then there were pretty children playing about 
and some nurse girls that she talked to. She 
felt so rested sitting here, and sometimes her 
thoughts went back to the March night when 
she had fallen asleep by the warm stove and 
had that wonderful, beautiful dream. She 
felt very happy over it. And the Cinderella 
meant all the little hard worked girls who 
had few pleasures. Oh, she wished they could 
all have one night in that magic fairy land. 

She was learning to sew a little as well, and 


38 A Modern Cinderella 

she thought she should like it if there was a 
little more time. But the babies began to 
crawl around now and Yoilet would pick up 
anything and put it in her mouth; so you had 
to watch her every moment. And though 
they generally slept from ten to twelve, 
there was the door to answer, little things to 
be done for Aunt Hetty whose bell would 
ring just as she had her work fixed ready to 
sew. Then likely she would lose her needle. 

But she managed somehow to keep very 
sweet-tempered. She wished she could go to 
school. 

“We’ll see next fall,” Mrs. Borden said. 
“The twins will be larger and less trouble.” 

Sundays were pretty good; Mr. Borden took 
out the children in the afternoon. She had to 
help Bridget with the vegetables for dinner, 
which was at midday and there was so much 
washing-up afterwards, at least drying the 
dishes, that there was barely time to go to 
Sunday school. But the singing was so 
delightful. She sang the pretty hymns over 
to the babies. In the evening the family 
generally went out or had company. So after 
Jack and the babies were abed she used to 


39 


Playing Hookey 

read, unless Jack wouldn’t go to sleep and 
torment her with questions that were un- 
answerable. 

On the whole Jack had been pretty good 
for a fortnight. One afternoon Mrs. Borden 
had gone out, Miss Florence had some visi- 
tors in the parlor. Marilla had fed the babies 
who were laughing and crowing when Aunt 
Hetty’s bell rang. She ran up. 

“M’rilla get me some hot water, quick, and 
that aromatic ammonia, I’m so faint and feel 
queer all over. Be quick now.” 

She ran down, but could not run up lest 
she might spill the water. Aunt Hetty was 
gasping for breath, and leaning back in the 
big chair. She swallowed a little, then she went 
over on Manila’s shoulder and the child was 
frightened at her ghastly look. There was 
the lavender salts 

Just then there was a succession of screams 
from the babies. Could she leave Aunt Hetty? 
Miss Florence called her, then ran up stairs 
herself. 

And this was what had happened; Jack 
had come home and finding no one, knew there 
was some candy on the closet shelf. And there 


40 A Modern Cinderella 

hung the strap. He wondered if it would 
hurt very much? The babies looked too 
tempting. So he began to strap them and 
enjoyed the howling. He was just going to 
leave off when Aunt Florence flew into the 
room. 

“Oh, Jack, you cruel, wicked boy ! Then she 
seized the strap and he soon had an opportun- 
ity to known how much it hurt. 

“Marilla! Marilla!” she called. 

“Oh, Miss Florence, something dreadful has 
happened to Aunt Hetty, and Fm fast with 
her. 

She came up. “Oh, she looks as if she was 
dying or dead. Let’s put her on the lounge 
and you go for Bridget.” 

“What is the matter with the children.” 

“Oh, go, quick! I’ll tell you afterward.” 

The child summoned Bridget and just 
ran in to comfort and kiss the babies. 

“Oh, Jack, you never — oh, look at their 
poor little hands! You bad, wicked boy!” 

“If you say much, I’ll give you some ” 

Marilla snatched at the strap and flung it 
upon a high shelf. Jack wiped his eyes and 
went out to play. Marilla ran upstairs again. 


Playing Hookey 41 

They were fanning Aunt Hetty and bathing 
her face and head. 

“Marilla, will you go to the parlor and ask 
that lady to come up here, — Mrs. Henderson. 
Bridget thinks — oh, and we ought to have a 
doctor! I must telephone / 7 

“And then can I stay with the babies?” 

“Yes, yes.” 

“Poor babies! Marilla fairly stopped them 
with witch hazel. Their little fat hands and 
their shoulders were swollen already. She 
kissed them, but she couldn't take them both 
and they wanted to be cuddled. So she sat 
down and hugged them and really cried her- 
self. 

Bridget came down, “She isn't dead but 
she's a mighty hard faint on her. And what 
happened to the children?” 

Marilla explained in a broken voice. 

“Oh, the murtherin' little devil! You take 
one and I'll comfort 'tother. But you can't 
lift her.” 

No; Marilla couldn't lift such a dead weight. 
Bridget walked the floor and patted Pansy 
and crooned over her, but the hurt was pretty 
deep. 


42 A Modern Cinderella 

Aunt Florence came down. 

“She’s over the faint. Mrs. Henderson is 
going to stay a while. Oh, poor babies!” 

“I must look after my meat or it’ll burn,” 
and she gave the baby to Miss Florence. 

“I’ll sit in the rocking chair and you put her 
in my lap, I think she’s hurt more than Violet. 
You see, I ran upstairs when Miss Hetty’s 
bell rang, and she fell on my shoulder, and 
I never thought ” 

“I gave it to him good, and his father’ll fin- 
ish him tonight. Oh, dear! Well, there comes 
their mother.” 

There was a hubhub with both babies 
crying again. Mrs. Borden laid aside her hat 
and coat and took up Violet, sent Marilla 
for a pitcher of milk and both babies were 
comforted with a drink. 

“Sit on the floor and hold them. They’re 
so heavy. Poor sweet babies.” 

The sobs ceased after a while. Violet fell 
asleep, Pansy was bathed again and grew 
quieter. The doctor came and said it was a 
bad fainting spell but that Mrs. Vanderveers 
heart was weak from age. 

Marilla fixed Pansy’s supper, fed her and 


Playing Hookey 43 

undressed her, and her mother laid her in the 
crib. Then she said — 

“You may go and help Bridget a little with 
the dinner.” 

Marilla arranged the table and the master 
of the house came in. Jack sneaked in, also. 
Mrs. Henderson staid, so no explanations were 
made. Jack was very quiet and behaved 
beautifully, but he wanted to go to bed at 
once. Violet woke and had her supper and 
quiet was restored. Then a man came in 
to consult Mr. Borden about some business. 

“It was awful that Jack should go at the 
babies so,” said Mrs. Borden to her sister. 

“I don’t know about telling his father. 
You gave him one whipping ” 

“And a good hard one. I’m afraid of boys 
getting so used to that mode of punishment 
that they don’t mind it. But father brought 
up four boys in that manner and they have 
all made nice men. I don’t see where Jack 
gets his badness from.” 

Jack’s mother sighed. “And yet he can be 
so lovely.” 

“I’ve been considering,” rejoined Florence. 


44 


A Modern Cinderella 


“Suppose we hold this over his head for a while. 
I might talk to him.” 

“Well, we can try it.” 

So Aunt Florence talked to him very se- 
riously, and said if he wasn’t a better boy they 
would have to send him off somewhere in the 
country where there were no children. She 
would not tell his father just now, but if he 
ever struck or pinched the babies again she 
certainly would, and he would be punshed 
twice over. He must remember that. 

He put his arms around her neck, and kissed 
her. “I’m awful sorry. I didn’t think it hurt 
so,” he said naively. 

“Papa will hurt you a great deal more than 
I did,” was her reply. 

And then Jack had a sudden accession of 
goodness. His teacher was proud of him. How 
much was due to his pretty face and winsome 
manner, one couldn’t quite tell, but the 
nursery had a lovely rest and Marilla didn’t 
have to watch out every moment. 

Mrs. Borden secretly wished the twins were 
prettier. They were too fat, and when she 
tried to diet them a little they made a ter- 
rible protest. Here they were fourteen 


Playing Hookey 45 

months old and couldn’t walk yet, but they 
were beginning to say little words under their 
nurse’s steady training. 

Aunt Hetty made light of her attack and 
was soon about as usual, but she did not take 
long walks and laid on the lounge a good deal. 
“Folks can’t stay young forever,” she said, 
“and I’m getting to be quite an old lady.” 

Then they began to plan for a summering. 

Last year they had not gone anywhere. 
Advertisements were answered, and Florence 
visited several places. They would take 
Marilla of course, she was coming to have a 
thin, worn look. Aunt Hetty would visit a 
grand niece, who had been begging her to 
come. Bridget would stay in the house, she 
had no fancy for cantering about. Mrs. 
Borden would live at home through the week 
and rejoin them on Saturday afternoons. 
They must get off soon after school closed. 
There was no end of sewing. Some pretty 
skirts were altered over for Marilla, as there 
was enough for full dresses in them. 

The place was on Long Island, a country 
house with only two other boarders. It was 
barely a quarter of a mile from the seashore, 


46 A Modern Cinderella 

with a great orchard and grass all about, 
shady places for hammocks and numerous 
conveniences, besides moderate board. 

Jack had not been an angel all the time. 
Some days he wouldn’t study. Then he 
had two fights with boys. He threw stones 
at cats — sometimes dogs, and broke two or 
three windows which he didn’t set out to do. 
He was getting tired of school and the weather 
was warm. 

So one afternoon he thought he would 
take a walk instead. He would go out to the 
park where they went on Sundays. It was so 
warm in school. He was getting quite tired 
of the confinement. 

He found a group of children and played 
with them awhile. Then they ran off home 
and he rambled on and on until he came to a 
street up a few steps. A wagon was standing 
there and two little boys were hanging on 
behind. 

“Come on, its real fun,” sang out one of 
them. “You get a good ride.” 

Jack thought it would be. They showed him 
how to hold on. The driver had been busy 
with an account book and now he touched up 


47 


Playing Hookey 

the horses. “Hanging on” wasn’t so easy 
Jack found, and you had to swing your legs 
underneath. The man paused again at a 
saloon and he dropped off; his hands were 
very tired. The man went in the place and 
when he came out one of the boys said — 

“Hi! Mister, won’t you give us a ride?” 

The man laughed. “Where you want to 
go? I’m for Roselands.” 

“We want to go there,” was the reply. 

“Well, crawl up here. Two of you’ll have to 
sit on the wagon bottom.” 

“I’m going to sit with the driver, ’cause 
I asked.” 

It wasn’t a very clean floor to sit on, Jack 
thought, and the wagon bumped a good deal, 
the beer kegs rattled against each other. But 
the boys laughed and called it fun. There was 
another stop and then the driver asked who 
they were going to see in Roselands. 

“Oh, no one. We’re going just for fun.” 

“Where’d you live?” 

The boys all lived at Newton. 

“Jiminy; then you better get out and trot 
back. I’m going over the mountain where 
I put up for the night. Mebbe you can get 


48 A Modern Cinderella 

a ride back. It’s two miles down to the place 
where I took you in.” 

“Yes, we better get out,” replied the biggest 
boy. “Oh, we can soon foot it back. Much 
obliged for the ride, Mister.” 

The man nodded. 

They sat off quite cheerily. Automobiles 
passed them and carriages containing ladies, 
one or two loaded trucks. Jack began to get 
very tired and lagged. “Come, hurry up,” 
the biggest boy said. Jack ran a little distance 
for a change. He began to wish he was back 
in school. Presently a farm wagon came jog- 
ging along. 

“Give us a ride?” The biggest boy’s name 
was Dick and he seemed the spokesman. 

“Yes — where ye want to go?” 

“To Newton.” 

“I turn off at the crossroads, ye kin ride 
that fur.” 

That was a great relief. They were quite 
jolly again, though Jack didn’t understand the 
fun. But when they dismounted, Dick asked 
him where he lived. 

“In Arch Street.” 
























* 



































































































t 
























































-A,a.e»\kcx”&> ; 


It was very comfortable. She was getting a bit sleepy. 


j 


(Modern Cinderella, Page 49) 


Playing Hookey 49 

“Well, that’s clear over there,” indicating it 
with his head. “Ta ta, little sonny.” 

They both laughed and Jack felt rather 
affronted. Over there seemed a long way. 
Then it was clouding up and night was coming 
on. He went straight along, but now he was 
hungry, and his little legs ached. He had been 
instructed if he was ever lost to ask the way 
to Arch Street. So he asked now. 

“Oh, sonny, you’re a long way from Arch 
Street. Keep straight on until you come to 
Taylor, then ask again.” 

Here was a bakery with a pleasant, motherly 
woman. He went in. 

“Please ma’am, would you give me a bun? 
I’m lost and I can’t find my way back to Arch 
Street.” 

“You poor child! Yes, and here’s a cake, 
beside. Arch Street isn’t far from the eastern 
end of the park. Sit and get rested. Who’s 
your father?” 

“Mr. John Borden.” 

The woman shook her head. 

“Thank you, very much.” Jack rose. 

“You go straight down three blocks. Then 
ask a policeman. Oh, I guess you’ll get home 
safely.” 


50 A Modern Cinderella 

Jack walked his three blocks. Then there 
was a low rumble of thunder. Oh, dear! He 
began to cry. Was there never a policeman! 

“What’s the matter bub?” asked a kindly 
voice. 

“I’m lost. I can’t find my way home.” 

“Where is home?” 

“Arch Street.” 

“Come on. We’ll find it. It’s bad to be 
lost. Where have you been?” 

“Oh, I can’t tell all the places,” sobbingly. 

They entered the park. Even that was large 
enough to get lost in. It grew darker and dark- 
er and there was a sprinkle of rain. Jack held 
tight to the man’s hand, and it seemed as if 
the park was full of bears. He was so frighten- 
ed. They came to one of the entrances. 

“Now you keep straight on and you will 
come to Arch Street. Good-bye little lad. 
It’s raining quite fast. Hook it along.” 

Jack did run. Houses began to look familiar. 

Yes, here was his own street. Oh, how glad 
he was. He almost flew. And his father ran 
down the steps and caught his little wet boy 
in his arms. 

“Oh, Jack! Jack! Amy,” he cried through the 
open hall door, “he’s here! he’s here!” 


Playing Hookey 51 

There had been a great commotion, for Jack 
had been instructed to come straight home 
from school even if he went out afterward. 
And when it came dinnertime with no Jack, 
and the dreadful things that one could con- 
jure up — being run over, being kidnapped — 
for he was such a pretty little fellow! Mr. 
Borden telephoned to the Police Precinct, to 
two hospitals, went out to search, inquiring 
of the neighboring children. No, he had not 
been playing with them. Mrs. Borden was 
wild with terror. Aunt Florence said some boy 
had coaxed him off somewhere, but she was 
desperately afraid that he laid crushed 
in some hospital. And now they all hugged 
and kissed him; and what with the fatigue, 
the fright and all, Jack really had an hysteric. 

They rubbed him and put him in some dry 
clothes and gave him a dose of aromatic 
ammonia to steady his nerves, and then some 
supper. And he said he went to the park and 
came out somewhere, and a man took him and 
two other boys for a ride. Dick was such a 
nice, bigfellow. He said nothing about hanging 
on behind, he had a feeling that wouldn’t re- 


52 A Modern Cinderella 

dound to the story. And the man took them 
out to Roselands and wasn’t coming back — ” 

“Roselands,” cried his mother. “Oh, Jack 
you might have been kidnapped. Never, 
never go riding with any strange man. And 
how did you get back?” 

“We walked some, then another man rode 
us a little way, and the boys went off 
and I got lost more and more and couldn’t 
find a cop, and asked every so many people, 
and a woman gave me a bun and a cake, and 
then a man took me across the park and told 
me to go straight along. And I was afraid of 
the thunder and all, and I was wet, and oh, 
dear!” 

“Never mind, Jack. You’re safe home now. 
You must come straight home from school, 
you have always been told that.” 

And he hadn’t been to school at all! 

But he was very sleepy and his mother put 
him to bed and kissed him a dozen times. The 
scoldings would save until tomorrow. 

Jack was rather languid the next morning 
and a little afraid. But he was the best boy 
in school, and brought home a note from his 
teacher, never suspecting his sin would find 
him out so soon. 


Playing Hookey 53 

Miss Collins asked his mother if she would 
send the reason why Jack was not at school 
yesterday afternoon, as they were required to 
put it down in the record book. 

“Oh, Jack! You didn’t go to school yester- 
day afternoon! What were you doing?” 

Jack hung his head, “I took a little walk, 
and then — and then — I was afraid it was late, 
and some children were playing — !” 

“Oh, you naughty boy! That is playing 
truant. I don’t know what your father 
will say!” 

“I don’t want to any more. I’d rather go to 
school. It wasn’t funny a bit. And I don’t 
want to ride in any old wagon that jounces 
and jounces, and I did get so tired. What 
did the teacher say?” 

“They have to put the true reason down in 
the record book. And there it will stay always. 
My nice little boy was a truant-player. And 
we shall all be so ashamed. What will your 
father say? And he was so afraid last night 
that you were killed!” 

“Oh, mama, I never will do it again, never!” 
Jack hung round his mother’s neck and cried 
and she cried with him, thinking of her tumult 


54 A Modern Cinderella 

of agony last night. And she had him safe — 
her little boy! 

“Jack,” she began presently, “can’t you 
be brave enough to tell papa how it began. 
Climb up in his lap and tell him how sorry 
and ashamed you are.” 

“Will he strap me?” 

“You deserve it I think. But he surely would 
if I told him. And when people do wrong they 
must bear the punishment.” 

“But I never will do it again.” 

“Tell him that, too.” 

Of course they talked it over at dinner time. 
Jack was not at all vainglorious. Afterward, 
he hung around and presently climbed up in 
his father’s lap. 

“My dear little son,” and his father kissed 
him. 

“But papa, I was badder than all that.” 
Badder seemed to admit more enormity 
than simply bad, “I — I went in the park to 
walk and I staid so long that — that ” 

“That you were ashamed to go back?” 

“Well” — Jack had spasms of direct truth 
tellings now and then, like most children. 

“I didn’t feel so ’shamed then as when 


Playing Hookey 55 

teacher spoke of it this afternoon. It looked 
so pleasant I thought I'd go on. Some of the 
boys said it was funny to play hookey, but I 
don't want to do it ever again. And if I had 
been killed somewhere!" Jack began to cry. 

The father held him close for some minutes. 

“Jack,” he said at length, “you have been 
a very bad boy, and I am glad it wasn't a 
happy afternoon. I hope you never will 
play truant again. Think how mama and I 
suffered not knowing what had happened 
to you and afraid our little boy might be 
brought home dead. You ought to be pun- 
ished but you seem to have suffered somewhat, 
and I am going to trust you, only, you can't 
go walking with me on Sunday, and maybe 
there are some other pleasures you will 
be deprived of. I'm awfully sorry and mor- 
tified that your name must go on record 
down at City Hall as a truant from school. 
Some of my friends may see it. These things 
are sure to get to daylight and make your 
family ashamed of them, and your teachers; 
just try to think of that when you do the things 
you know are wrong, for even a little boy will 


56 A Modern Cinderella 

know that. Didn’t something tell you 
staying from school was wrong?” 

Jack crept closer in his father’s arms. He 
was too young for much reasoning, and the 
man wondered if he would have been so peni- 
tent if he had had what boys call a real good 
time. 

They let the matter go at that. Jack looked 
very wistful when his father took the babies 
out Sunday morning and said no word to him. 
He followed Marilla round as she dusted up 
the rooms and wanted to know about Bethany 
Home. 

“Were the children always good?” 

“Oh, no. There were a good many bad ones 
among them.” 

“Did they have a strap?” 

“Yes, a bigger one than your father’s.” 

“Will papa get a bigger one when I’m big?” 

“Oh, Jack, I hope you won’t need any strap. 
Why can’t you be a good boy?” 

Jack gave a long sigh. “Sometimes badness 
comes into your mind just sudden like.” 

After a pause — “Did you like Bethany 
Home?” 

“Not as well as being here. I’ve told you 


Playing Hookey 57 

that forty times. And there were no little 
babies. And no dessert, only a teeny little bit 
on Sunday. And just a sweet cracker for tea.” 

“What makes you like the babies? They 
can’t talk nor do anything. And they are not 
as pretty as I am. Folks used to say when I 
was real little, ‘Oh, what a lovely child.’ ” 

Marilla laughed, Jack did know that he 
was very good looking. 

“They’ll be pretty by and by. And they are 
real sweet. I like babies. I like kittens and 
little chickens.” 

“I like a dog. Cats scratch.” 

“Not unless you torment them. Now I 
am going down stairs to put the dishes on the 
table. Then I must go and help Bridget.” 

“Bridget won’t let me come down in the 
kitchen. She chases me out with a stick.” 

“Children are a bother in the kitchen. They 
ask so many questions.” 

Then his mother and Aunt Florence came 
home from church, and his father with both 
babies asleep. He carried them upstairs. 

Marilla was getting to be quite a handy 
table maid for all but the heavy dishes. She 
placed them on the dumb waiter and started 


58 A Modern Cinderella 

them down stairs. Mrs. Borden took off the 
others. When the babies were awake Marilla 
had to stay up with them. 

Mrs. Borden dished the cream. “Jack will 
not have any today,” his mother said. 

Jack sat still with his eyes full of tears but 
said not a word. 

But he went to Sunday school with Ma- 
rilla and behaved beautifully. 

“If he was always as good as this,” the 
child thought, “how I should love him.” He 
did not even tease for a walk, a thing she was 
quite afraid he would do. 


CHAPTER IV 


POOR CINDERELLA 

Oh, how busy they were and the babies took 
this opportunity to begin the cutting of teeth. 
The auto came for Aunt Hetty. Some of the 
parlor furnishings were packed away, every- 
thing swathed in linen. The closing exercises 
of the kindergarten took place and Jack dis- 
tinguished himself by repeating a pretty little 
poem. In September he would be six. 

Then came the last week. They would go 
on Saturday. Sunday was Fourth of July but 
it would be held on Monday. Trunks were 
packed, the last bit of shopping done. The 
babies fretted and Marilla took them out 
morning and afternoon with strict injunctions 
to keep on the shady side of the street. It 
seemed to grow hotter and hotter. The child 
lost her appetite and could not eat Bridget’s 
choice tid-bits. Oh, how her little legs ached, 
and her back felt sometimes as if it would 
fall apart. 

“It's good you are going,” declared Bridget. 


6o A Modern Cinderella 


“You're almost a skeleton. Goodness knows 
I shall miss you enough, and just be thinking 
of your coming back." 

Jack had gone down town with his mother 
to get some sandals and slippers. She was 
very glad, for sometimes his talking almost 
set her crazy, and she really was afraid to be 
impatient with him. 

She had found a beautiful quiet street 
with great trees that fairly met in the middle 
of it. Many of the families were away. She 
sat on one special stoop where the house 
was all shut up tight. There were no children 
in the street. 

It seemed this day, Thursday, as if she would 
never get there. The babies were so heavy. She 
sat down on the second step, leaning against 
the stone column and pushed the carriage 
to and fro. Curious shadows went dancing 
before her eyes, sometimes whe could not 
see at all. And she was so sleepy! 

Pansy threw her rattle out and cried for 
it. Marilla stepped down to pick it up and 
fell on the sidewalk. What was the matter 
with her legs? they seemed to have lost their 
strength. She crawled up again. All the world, 


Poor Cinderella 


6 1 


the trees and houses went flying round and 
all was dark. She was falling down — down — 
Poor little Cinderella! 

The babies missed the soft soothing voice. 
They cried louded and louder, then howled. 
Some children came to see what was the matter 
two quite big boys among them. The police- 
man looked down from the comer and paced 
with his slow tread. 

“What’s the row here?” he asked. 

A lady came down one of the stoops on the 
opposite side of the street; a rather tall, slim 
woman in a soft gray dress and hat with 
violet® around the crown. She crossed over. 
The policeman had taken the girl by the 
shoulder and given her a rough shake. 

“Those children howl enough to wake the 
dead, and she’s asleep here.” 

But as he partly raised her Miss Armitage 
saw that her face was deadly white. 

“Oh, poor child!” she cried. “What can be 
the matter? And whose babies are these?” 

“They’re Jack Borden’s little sisters — twins. 
And thats the nuss gal,” said one of the big 
boys. 

“Do you know where they live?” 


62 A Modern Cinderella 


“Round in Arch street.” 

“Could you take them there?” 

“Well — yes’m.” 

“Then take them,” rejoined the lady. 

The carriage being moved she sat down on 
the step and took the girl in her arms. 

“She isn’t dead — I see the flutter in the 
temple.” 

“Better go to the hospital,” proposed the 
policeman. 

Marilla opened her eyes and glanced up 
but did not seem to notice anything; then the 
lids fell and the beautiful long lashes shadowed 
her cheeks. 

“Carry her to my house across the street,” 
and she led the way. 

He picked up the light burden as if it had 
been a feather. She opened the door and asked 
him to take the child upstairs and lay heron 
the couch. 

“I am obliged to you,” she said. “In a 
way I am in Settlement work. We’ll have a 
doctor and see what is the matter. Then I’ll 
decide about the hospital. And I will find out 
about those people.” 


Poor Cinderella 63 

“You’re a good sort, ma’am,” and he 
touched his hat brim to her. 

“Jane,” she called. “This poor child isn’t 
exactly in a faint, but something is the matter. 
Get a warm bath ready and we’ll put her in. 
I’ll telephone to Dr. Richards.” 

“Yes — he was just going out. Would be up 
for a first call.” 

Miss Armitage undressed her. She was 
clean and neat, but the poor little body was 
painfully thin. Then they carried her to the 
bath. Jane rubbed her softly and she gave 
some responsive sighs. 

“What a pretty lot of little curls and fine 
as silk. I do wonder who she can be?” 

“She’s the little nurse girl who brings those 
babies, twins I suppose they are, and sits on 
the stoop over opposite.” 

“What happened?” 

“Well it’s some sort of a collapse. Now I’ll 
find a nice nightgown, and we’ll see what the 
doctor says.” 

Marilla opened her eyes. They were a 
sort of blueish gray, but now very heavy and 
dull. Her lips moved, but the tone was very 


64 A Modern Cinderella 

low. It sounded as if she said “fairy god- 
mother” and Miss Armitage smiled. 

“Oh, poor little thing!” 

Dr. Richards flew around in his auto. 

“Oh, I thought something had happened 
to you,” he began. 

“It has,” and she detailed the simple story. 

He followed her up to the room. It was 
such a lovely, restful room. A white bed in 
the alcove, white window drapery, a carpet 
with considerable light blue in it, a dressing 
case, a writing desk, some books and pictures, 
mostly Madonnas. 

“Poor child,” he said. “She’s been worked 
too hard. All her strength seems gone. And 
a case of heat prostration. It's been an awful 
day. Who is she?” 

Miss Armitage told over the incident. 
“I have seen her sitting there several times. 
It is shady in the afternoon.” 

“Two fat babies,” and he laughed. “I 
should think one would be enough for such 
a child to manage. Overwork and underfeeding 
I think, and the heat. I'll see if I can rouse 
her.” 

Marilla opened her eyes and the lids 


Poor Cinderella 65 

seemed to fall from absolute weariness. The 
lips moved but made no sound. 

“It is a kind of comatose state. Not know- 
ing all that is back of it I can’t quite make 
up my mind. If this awful heat would let 
up! I’ll leave some drops to be given to her 
and will come in one my first round in the 
morning. I haven’t been to the Settlement 
House yet.” 

“Oh, you must go. That little Mary Burns 
died at noon, and her mother is half crazy 
over it. Poor little thing, deformed and all 
that. This child has a nice straight body and 
a fine smooth skin. I’ll go round in Arch 
street and see what I can learn about her.” 

“She looks worth saving if life really holds 
anything for her. Poor things! Why are so 
many sent into the world ‘just to toil.’ ” 

“I was going over ” 

“Never mind now. I’ll attend to it all, and 
see the Burns’ priest. Don’t be worried. 
These drops will keep up her strength,’’ 
nodding to Marilla. “And I will report in 
the morning.” 

Dr. Richards went his way. Miss Armitage 
sat and considered. Perhaps it would be as 


66 A Modern Cinderella 


well to go to Mrs. Borden’s. They would be 
feeling much alarmed, no doubt. She explained 
to Jane and put on her hat again and picked 
up her sun umbrella, for some streets were 
still in a glow. This was the best part of the 
city however, and there were some fine trees. 

She stopped and looked in a directory. 
There was only one Borden living on Arch 
street, a Mr. John Borden, lawyer. She made 
a note of the number. Arch street was some 
distance farther west, and then only a block 
or so. A very nice looking three-story brick 
with a stone stoop. She mounted and rang 
the bell. There certainly was a child or 
children crying. 

A young woman much distraught answered 
the door. And now positive howls greeted 
her ears. 

“We are in such trouble,” apologized the 
woman. 

“I am Miss Armitage and live in Loraine 
place, nearly opposite where the little girl 
fainted. Did the babies get home safely?” 

“Oh, we are so glad! Won’t you please 
come up-stairs for my sister can’t leave the 
children. We have been almost crazy! One 


Poor Cinderella 67 

boy said she fell off the steps. Is she much 
hurt?” 

“She had a bad fainting spell. The doctor 
came and he hardly knows what to think 
until tomorrow. The policeman proposed 
sending her to the Hospital, but I am one 
of the managers of the Settlement House 
in Beacon street, so I had her brought over 
to my house. A fall, you said?” 

“That was what a boy said — that she 
tumbled off the step. Oh, Pansy dear, do 
hush! You miss Marilla, don’t you? The best 
little nurse in all the world. Oh, what can we 
do without her!” 

Mrs. Borden was pacing the floor with the 
baby’s head against her shoulder and gently 
patting her. She did not scream now, but 
sobbed in a very sleepy fashion. 

“You see, we are to start on Saturday noon, 
and we shall not come back until the middle 
of September. We thought it would be so 
nice for Marilla, too, she’d kind of run down 
though she wasn’t at all ill. Bridget worried 
that she ate so little and she was growing 
thin.” 

“How long has she been with you?” 


68 A Modern Cinderella 


“I took her from an institution — the Beth- 
any Home — about the middle of October. She 
was just twelve, the Matron said. I think she 
was very glad to come. She’s had a good home 
and plenty to eat. And one funny thing is 
that Bridget took such a fancy to her, and 
though Bridget’s good as gold, she has some 
queer streaks.” 

Mrs. Borden sat down and drew a long 
breath. Pansy had fallen asleep at last. 

“And we never let her lift the children or 
carry them up and down. I think babies are 
sometimes injured for life that way in falling 
They used to sit on the rug and she’d tell them 
stories. I think she must have made them out 
of her head — funny things and she’d act them 
off and the babies would laugh and laugh — 
it was as good as a play. They seemed to 
understand every word. Marilla was a bom 
nurse girl. But what can we do? We must 
have someone, and there’s only such a little 
time.” 

Miss Armitage was thinking. 

“Perhaps I might help you out,” she said 
kindly. “There is a young girl with us who 
worked in a factory until she gave out. We 


Poor Cinderella 


6 9 

sent her to the Rest House in the country and 
she did improve, but they wouldn’t take her 
back in the factory. She’s a nice pleasant 
girl about seventeen.” 

“Oh, how good of you to think of it! But 
I can’t pay high wages, for there’ll be her board 
and it won’t be hard. When the babies are 
well they are as good as kittens though they 
can’t scamper around so much. And they’re 
so fat they won’t walk very soon. It’ll just 
be sitting round and amusing them and looking 
after their food. I couldn’t give more than 
three dollars a week — we are not at all rich,” 
with a short laugh of apology. 

“I think Ellen would come for awhile.” 

“And I should want Marilla as soon as she 
was well enough. You see she’s bound-out to 
me, and we all like her so much. I don’t see 
what could have happened to her. She has 
been out in the fresh air most of the time and 
we always tell her to go slow with the babies, 
not rush along in the heat. What did she say?” 

“Oh, she hasn’t spoken at all. She lies just 
unconscious.” 

“Good gracious! Oh, you don’t think she 


70 A Modern Cinderella 

will die?” and Mrs. Borden really turned pale 
with fright. 

“A person sometimes lies that way for 
days when overcome with the heat. The 
doctor can tell better tomorrow.” 

“Oh, poor little Marilla! She is so sweet- 
tempered. And you were so good not to send 
her off to a hospital. How ever should we 
have found her! There is so little time. When 
shall we hear about this other girl?” 

“I will telephone as soon as I go home and 
tell them to send her in the morning,” and 
Miss Armitage rose. 

“We are so much obliged.” She followed 
her visitor out in the hall. 

“Do not come down,” said Miss Armitage. 
“And I hope the babies will improve.” 

“Thank you — for everything.” 

The sun was going down and some stray 
wafts of wind wandered along, which made 
the heat rather more endurable. 

“Jane,” she said as she walked into the room, 
“did you notice any bruise on the child’s 
head while you were bathing her. She fell off 
of the steps it seemed.” 

“There was none on her forehead. Her hair 


Poor Cinderella 


7 1 


is very thick and I really did not look only to 
see that it was in a nice, clean condition. She 
hasn’t suffered for want of cleanliness.” 

Then she told Jane all she had learned, 
adding: 

“They seem very nice kind of people. But 
oh! those babies!” 

Miss Armitage telephoned to the settle- 
ment House, stating the case. 

“Yes, Ellen Day was still there and would be 
very glad of the position. She would go the 
first thing in the morning.” 

Jane insisted on bringing in a cot and sleep- 
ing beside the little girl who lay quite as still 
as if she were dead. Now and then she gave 
her the drops and fanned the air about her. 
The morning came and the city was astir 
again. But it was quiet in Loraine place. So 
many had gone away and there were no 
trolleys nearby. 

They looked over Manila’s head and found 
one spot above the ear that had a small bit 
of discoloration, but it was not in a dangerous 
place. The doctor came in. 


72 A Modern Cinderella 

“I did not think there would be mueh 
change,” he said. Then he tried to rouse her. 
Jane held her up while they gave her a little 
milk which she swallowed without difficulty. 
She opened her eyes and closed them again, 
then lay quiet. 

He listened to Miss Armitage’s interview 
and nodded as she went along. 

“The child is terribly run down. I think 
she has worked harder than any one imagined. 
But they seem to have appreciated her.” 

No one could guess the strain of talking so 
incessantly to amuse the babies, of reading to 
Jack, of having eyes all over to see that he 
did not torment the little ones, push their 
playthings out of the way, give them sly 
pinches or tweak their hair. She did hate to 
tell tales on him. And when he coaxed to 
go out with her he was a constant care. 
School had been closed for a fortnight. Oh, 
how tired she was every night! 

“You don’t eat more than a bird,” Bridget 
would complain. 

“But I’m never hungry now, I shall be so 
glad when we get to the real country, and 
grass, and everything. I’m so tired of the 


Poor Cinderella 


73 

rows and rows of red brick houses, and they 
all seem so hot.” 

And now Bridget was almost heart broken. 

Ellen Day came in to tell Miss Armitage 
how glad she was that a good word had been 
spoken for her. “And she was sure she should 
like the ladies and the pretty little boy. But 
how fat the babies were and not a bit pretty. 
They were to start at twelve tomorrow.” 

It was still hot, but in the afternoon it 
clouded up and the evening brought a most 
refreshing shower. The hot wave was broken. 

Sunday afternoon they had rolled the couch 
over by the window. Miss Armitage sat 
reading. Jane had gone out for a walk. The 
child seemed to have grown thinner in these 
few days. 

She opened her eyes slowly and looked in- 
tently at the woman sitting there in her soft, 
white attire. She was so sweet and pretty. 

“Are you a fairy godmother?” Marilla 
asked in a weak, wandering tone. 

“A — what?” smiling in surprise. 

“A fairy godmother. You don't look like 
the other one, but then it was night and we 
went to the King's ball. Oh, it was so 
splendid!” 


74 A Modern Cinderella 

“When was that?” in a soft, persuasive tone. 

“Oh, a long time ago. I was Cinderella, and 
every new Cinderella dances with the Prince, 
you know. Only they can’t dance but once 
with him.” 

It was something the child had read, 
doubtless. 

“Do you feel better?” she asked tenderly. 

Marilla glanced around and sighed. Then 
she said in a frightened tone — 

“Oh, where am I? And where are the 
babies? I heard them cry.” 

“You are all safe and right. And the babies 
and all the family went down on Long Island.” 

“It’s so queer.” 

The eyelids drooped again and she fell 
asleep. 

An hour later she woke, and seemed to 
study the room and the lady. 

“I never was at fairyland but that once,” 
she said slowly. “Then there was such lovely 
music and dancing and everybody was so 
gay. It’s beautiful here and you are very 
sweet. I don’t know how I came here. Must 
I go back?” 


Poor Cinderella 75 

“Not until you are well. You have been 
ill. And you were brought here ” 

“I can’t think. There were the babies. I 
went to get something and stumbled and 
everything looked so queer, blue and red and 
full of stars, and then I went down and down 
and all was dark and I kept going down ” 

“You fainted and were brought over here. 
The babies were taken home. And you have 
been ill, but now you are going to get well.” 

“I’ve never been real ill. There were the 
measles once in the home and we had to stay 
in bed. I was so hungry. Oh, do you know 
where Bridget is? She was so good to me.” 

“She is at Mr. Borden’s.” 

“Could I please to have a drink?” 

Miss Armitage brought a glass of milk. 

“Would you like something to eat — a bit 
of custard?” 

“I’m not hungry. But the milk was good. 
Thank you. Who brought me back from that 
great dark pit?” 

“The doctor, I guess,” with a smile. 

“Could I be turned over?” 

Miss Armitage turned her so her face was 
toward the sky. She drew a long breath. 


76 A Modern Cinderella 

“Do you mind if I should go to sleep ?” 
“Oh, no, and I'll read to you.” 

The sweet voice soon lulled her to sleep. 
And she did not speak again all through the 
evening, but was rather restless all night. 
No one had to watch with her now, but Miss 
Armitage was troubled at the soft, long sighs. 


CHAPTER V 


THE FAIRY GODMOTHER 

Marilla wondered what the bells were 
ringing for. And then pistols were firing. Oh, 
yes, it was Fourth of July. She would get 
up — but her thin legs gave way and her head 
spun round. All the room was strange, and 
everybody seemed mixed up. Then a soft 
voice said — 

“I hope you are better this morning.” 

“I feel — queer — ” 

The face was flushed, the little hands were 
hot. 

“The doctor was afraid of fever,” Miss 
Armitage said to Jane, “and it has come.” 

But the doctor was in early. There would 
be so many calls on him, by and by. 

“Yes, it is fever. She seemed better yes- 
terday. And she can’t spare any strength to 
be burned up, so we must do our best. I don’t 
dare treat her as you would a robust child, but 
I’ll give her something every hour, and get 
in again before night. Oh, no, I think it is 


78 A Modern Cinderella 

hardly critical,” in answer to the lady’s 
anxious look. 

Marilla did not seem to know any one. 
She muttered little catches of talk about the 
babies and Jack, always pleading with him 
not to do this or that. Once she laughed and 
waved her hand to and fro as if in response to 
music and said — “All the Cinderellas! How 
beautiful!” 

A tall, plain-looking Irish woman came in 
at midafternoon. 

“Tell her it’s Bridget,” she said. “Can’t I 
see her?” 

“Oh, yes,” replied Miss Armitage, “But I 
am afraid she will not recognize you.” 

So she led the way up-stairs. Marilla lay 
on the cot now and was moving her hands as if 
acting something. 

“Ah, the dear!” Bridget knelt down by the 
side of the bed. “Don’t you remember Bridget 
whose come to care for you so much? Ah 
dear! It’s meself that sorry enough to see ye 
lyin’ this way, thin as a ghost.” 

She opened her eyes, “Bridget! Oh, you 
know the night I went to the ball and fairy 
godmother turned my old frock into the beau- 


The Fairy Godmother 79 

tifullest frock, all lace and ribbons. And I 
danced with the Prince and had such a lovely 
time!” 

Then the eyelids fell and she lapsed into 
unconsciousness. 

Miss Armitage glanced inquiringly. 

“It was along of a dream that she had once; 
it was a dream for such things don't happen 
now-a-days, more's the pity. But she always 
believes it real and true, the dear, that she 
was Cinderella, and had been there. She's 
the best little thing I ever saw, and she never 
told you a lie or took a bit of cake without 
asking. In the begining she must have be- 
longed to some nice folks; and just look at her 
pretty hands and feet, light and small enough 
to dance at any king's ball. But it's hard on 
the nice ones that have to go to Homes and 
be put out for little drudges. Though they're 
nice people, the Bordens, as you may guess by 
my stayin' with 'em goin' on five year.” 

“And she wasn't over- worked,” ventured 
Miss Armitage. “She is so thin.” 

“She's been falling away dreadful the last 
month. Well, she wasn't and she was. There 
was an old lady living up on the third floor, 


8o A Modern Cinderella 


an aunt or something and she was afraid of 
bad spells, she did have some, and she’d 
ring her bell for Marilla an’ it would be up- 
stairs an’ down, sometimes way down to my 
kitchen, and lugging those two fat babies 
up and down the street ” 

“Did she have to carry them any?” 

“Oh, no. The mistress didn’t want her to 
lift them. She was afraid of a fall and their 
backs would get broken. So when they were 
big enough they sat on the floor and she talked 
to them and told them funny things and 
acted ’em off and laughed, and they’d laugh 
too. It was like a play to see ’em. And they’d 
jabber back and she’d make b’lieve she un- 
derstood it all. She was a wonderful child’s 
nurse an’ there’ll be trouble enough without 
her. But the babies went to bed early an’ then 
she’d come down an’ wipe the dishes for me 
an’ they made no call on her. But Jack was 
a holy terror, he was that bad, but he went 
to school in the spring. If he was mine I’d 
skin him alive. But it was hard dragging them 
fat, heavy things around. Will you tell me 
just how you come to find her? They’ve 


The Fairy Godmother 81 

missed her so. They screech enough to raise 
the dead, an’ I know it’s for her.” 

Miss Armitage told the incident over. 

“The saints bless and protect you ma’am 
for not lettin’ her be sent to a hospital! But 
do you think she can get well? And if that 
other maid suits, couldn’t you keep her here 
all summer and let her get good and strong? 
I’m going out to my cousin at Fairfield to 
stay until next Monday. The boss will be 
down with his folks until then, and all the 
vallerbles have been sent out of the house so 
we can leave it alone. And when I come back 
we may have a plan for the poor dear that 
isn’t baby tendin’. O the little darlin’ ! Don’t 
let her die, ma’am, she’s so nice and sweet!” 

She caught the little hand and kissed it, 
and winked away the tears that glistened in 
her eyes. 

“I’ll do my best, you may be sure. And when 
you come back, I shall be glad to have a call 
from you. And by that time she may know 
us all. Thank you for your sympathy.” 

Bridget nodded and turned away. Miss 
Armitage studied the little girl with a new 
interest. She had seen beautiful children 


82 A Modern Cinderella 


among the very poor, in the slums, with 
no ancestry back of them. There was some- 
thing about this child — not beauty either, that 
set one to thinking. She must learn some- 
thing about her. 

And then she smiled over the fancy of 
being Cinderella and dancing with the Prince 
at the ball. What a happy dream it must 
have been for the child! She was glad to hear 
that she had not been badly treated or ill 
fed. She could trust the kindly Bridget for 
that. 

When the doctor came in Sunday morning 
a smile lighted up his face. 

“A real improvement," he exclaimed. “No 
fever and a normal temperature. Pulse 
stronger. Now, with nourishing diet and some 
salt in the baths we shall have her about 
again, though Pve had several patients lie 
weeks in this state in the hot weather." 

Marilla glanced up and smiled back. 

“Why, I feel all well/ she began. “Couldn't 
I get up." 

“Yes," said Miss Armitage. “Jane will you 
bring that small pink kimona and put it on." 

She took the doctor over in the bay window. 


The Fairy Godmother 83 

“The Borden’s cook came in to see the 
child. She seemed very fond of her and said 
she was the sweetest little thing. And that 
she was wonderful with the babies. I was glad 
she had not been ‘put upon’ as they say 
over to the house. And that she always 
had enough to eat. And she wasn’t allowed 
to lift the babies ” 

“But dragged them about in the carriage. 
Such children are not strong enough for nurse- 
maids. She was pretty well used up, and she’ll 
be sometime getting over it.” 

“I’ve taken a curious fancy to the child. 
Jane thinks she must have belonged to what 
we call ‘nice people.’ She flattered me by 
asking, the first coherent words she uttered if 
I was not ‘a fairy godmother?’ Think of 
that!” smiling. 

“Well, I think you have been that many a 
time. I wonder you haven’t filled the house 
with children. 

“I’m always full of pity for them. But 
when they are cured and put in some place 
where they can do their best, and have a 
little love and care, I go on to the next. I 
do not believe I am a real missionary, and I 


84 A Modern Cinderella 

have a theory — it may not be a very noble 
one,” and a soft color suffused her fine face, 
“that people who bring children into the world 
ought to be made to feel the responsibility 
of them and not shift them on society at large, 
trusting Providence to take care of them.” 

“That is what ought to be taught — the 
responsibility of children. Women as well as 
men sin in this respect. The woman who for- 
gives the drunken husband and takes him 
back until tired of working he goes off again 
leaving another child to add to the poorly- 
fed throng she can hardly take care of. I 
think the man who goes off the second time, 
or who does not take care of the children he 
has, should be put in some institution and 
made to earn their support. And the girls 
ought to be educated up to better ideas of 
marriage. It doesn’t near always conduce to 
morality. I preach sermons to you — don’t I?” 
and he gave a short laugh. “And we can never 
set the world straight. But these Homes and 
Republics are doing a good work in training 
children to self reliance.” 

Jane wrapped the little girl in the kimona and 
lifted her up in the reclining chair. 


The Fairy Godmother 85 

*‘Oh, that’s so nice. How good you are! 
And everything is so lovely. Oh, I’ll soon be 
well.” 

Then the little face clouded over. Oh, she 
truly would not mind being ill if she could 
stay in this beautiful house where everything 
was so quiet. Jane went in and out, and pres- 
ently she brought a cup of broth. How good 
it tasted! 

“Would you mind if I went back to bed? 
I’m so sleepy.” 

“Oh, no,” returned Jane, and she put her 
gently back on the cot where she soon fell 
asleep. 

There was slight rise of fever and restless- 
ness about noon. She talked in broken 
snatches imploring Jack not to do this or that 
and not to pinch the babies. Then she was 
so tired, so tired! But about midafternoon, 
she seemed to rouse and come to herself and 
said she was hungry. There was broth and 
hot milk and some stewed fruit, and Jane 
brushed her hair that fell in a bed of rings 
and asked if she didn’t want to sit up. She 
brought her over by the window so she could 


86 A Modern Cinderella 


look out, but the back yard was very pretty 
for it was gay with blooming flowers. 

Miss Armitage had been to church, and at 
two she had a class of young girls who were 
clerks in stores. Half of them were going away 
on Monday to the Rest House for a week, and 
they were full of that. Two of them had never 
been before. Was it like Coney Island? 

“It is not far from the shore, the broad Sound 
that leads out to the ocean. But there are 
not side shows. Just rowing and bathing, and 
a ride every day in a big omnibus. And plenty 
of girls. Oh, you won’t be lonseome;” and 
Miss Armitage smiled. 

“Another girl and I went away last sum- 
mer to a house that wasn’t country but a 
beautiful street with lawns in front. There 
were three ladies, and oh, they were so par- 
ticular. They did not have any story papers 
and the books were all dull and religious and 
if you took up one you must put it back in 
the same place. They didn’t like us to talk 
‘store’ nor sing any street songs and one lady 
only played hymns on the piano. Oh, we were 
so homesick.” 

“The Rest House has a bigtfarm and chick- 


The Fairy Godmother 87 

ens and two cows, and a tennis court and cro- 
quet. And there are lovely walks. And 
hammocks and swings.” 

“That’s the ticket!” said one of the girls. 
“You want some fun.” 

Miss Armitage did not check her. She 
thought of the amusements and pleasures of 
her youth. Then she came home to her 
little girl whose face lighted up with gladness, 
and who put out her thin hand. 

“You look lovely,” Marilla said. “And 
I’m getting almost well.” 

“That is good news,” and the lady smiled. 

“Only it seems so queer when I try to think. 
It is such a long while. I seem to have been 
lost and couldn’t find my way out. Do you 
know where the babies are?” 

“They all went down to Long Island. I 
sent them a new girl. And Bridget was here 
to inquire about you.” 

“Oh, she was so good to me. I was a little 
afraid of her at first, especially when she said 
she’d ‘skin me alive.’ Don’t you think it 
would hurt dreadfully? She used to threaten 
Jack, but she never did it. And she said that 
about the fairy; godmother and the King’s 


88 A Modern Cinderella 


bail was a dream. What is it that goes to 
strange places when you are asleep? And 
how can you enjoy and remember all, and 
hear the music for days afterward? If there 
are two lives, one for day and one for night, 
why doesn’t the night one go straight on?” 

“You’ll have to ask the doctor these 
curious puzzles. They are beyond me.” 

“Is Bridget at the house?” she inquired 
after a moment’s thought. 

“She was going away to some cousin to 
stay a week as Mr. Borden will be down to — 
Bayside, I think it is, all the week.” 

“When I get well I suppose I shall have to go 
back to the babies. You know I am a bound 
out girl — until I am eighteen. But they’ll 
be growing bigger all the time. I wish they 
were as pretty as Jack. Don’t you think all 
babies ought to be pretty? And have curly 
hair?” 

“I think the curly hair quite an addition.” 

“There’s another puzzle. Why should 
some hair curl and some hair keep straight?” 

“I don’t know. But your’s is curly,” 
smiling. 

“Yes, I like it. At the Home there were 


The Fairy Godmother 89 

two other girls with curly hair. And the 
nurse said it made us vain, so she cut it close 
to the skin and she said it wouldn’t curl 
any more. That was last summer. But it 
did when it grew out, and I was glad. I tried 
to make the babies curl, and Mrs. Borden 
said she’d give me a silver dollar if I could. 
But it was so straight and there wasn’t much 
of it. Do you remember the fat little girl of 
the Campbell’s Soups? The babies look a 
good deal like her. They have high fore- 
heads and round eyes full of wonder, and 
such chubby cheeks. But Aunt Florence 
said Mr. Borden was just such a baby and 
he isn’t at all chubby now and has dark 
eyes. Jack’s are dark. Maybe they’ll grow 
prettier. But they’re good and — funny. 
They laugh over everything, and they seem 
to understand everything I say or read to 
them. I wonder if they will like the new 
girl.” 

“She is very pleased and, I think, patient — 
four years older than you.” 

“Oh, suppose they didn’t want me back?” 
and the child drew a long breath of half 
fear. 


90 A Modern Cinderella 

“There will be something else/’ in an as- 
suring tone. 

Marilla leaned her head back on the pillow. 
She had talked herself tired. How queer 
that was, too, when she had talked for hours 
to the babies. 

“Would you like me to read to you?” 
inquired Miss Armitage. 

“Oh, yes, if it’s verses. There’s a curious 
music in verses that goes all through you, 
keeping time to something in your brain. I 
just love them.” 

The lady found “Songs of Seven” with its 
musical lilt and the child listened wide-eyed 
as if it made pictures to her. Then the doctor 
came in and was very much pleased over her 
improvement. 

But the next day she was quite languid 
again. She took a few steps when suddenly 
everything swam before her eyes and she 
would have fallen but for Jane’s strong arm. 

“Oh, you don’t suppose I can never walk 
any more?” she cried in affright. “For 
there was a nurse at the Home who fell down 
that way and she had been very well, too. 
But something happened to her hips. I can’t 


The Fairy Godmother 91 

think what they called it, and she never could 
walk again. They had to send her to the 
hospital and she could get about just a little 
on crutches. Oh, dear” and Marilla began to 
cry. 

“There don’t think of such a thing. It was 
only weakness,” comforted Miss Armitage. 
“Once when I was ill I fainted a great many 
times for just nothing at all. You have 
not had a chance to get strong yet.” 

Marilla recalled seeing the nurse brought 
down stairs on a stretcher, they called it. And 
the doctor said she could never walk again. 
Oh, how dreadful that would be. She turned 
her face over on the pillow and let the tears 
drop silently, and she could not swallow any 
supper, something lay so heavy on her breast. 
Miss Armitage kissed her, and Marilla twined 
her arms around the soft white neck hardly 
hidden by the lace. There had never been 
any one to love during the later years. And 
her mother had been busy and away in a store. 

“Don’t worry, dear,” said the soothing voice. 
“God takes care of us all.” 

The sun was shining the next morning and 
the next door canary hanging out on the back 


92 A Modern Cinderella 

porch was singing with all his might and 
main. Such long sweet warbles, such a merry 
staccato with little pauses, as if he asked — 
“Now, what do you think of that?” and the 
child laughed with a sense of glee. Oh, how 
nice it would be to be a bird. But she wouldn’t 
want to live in a cage all the time. 

Jane came and gave her a bath, rubbed her 
softly but thoroughly across the hips and up 
and down the spine, holding her up with one 
strong arm. Marilla took a frightened step, 
then another and laughingly flung her arms 
around Jane’s neck, crying — 

“Oh, I can walk! I can walk!” 

“Why did you think you could never walk 
again?” Jane laughed wholesomely. 

“I felt so queer — and I thought of the woman 
at the Home.” 

“But she must have been quite an old 
body. They do get paralyzed; children don’t. 
Oh, you must not think of dreadful things. 
Come, see how you can walk.” 

Jane’s arm was around her and she led her 
back to the room and dressed her. Miss 
Armitage came up just then and greeted her 


The Fairy Godmother 93 

with a happy smile. But Marilla felt shaky 
and was very glad to sit down on the couch. 

“Now I shall bring you up some breakfast,” 
said Jane. 

“Don’t you suppose I could go down and 
have some real breakfast at the table — not 
today, but sometime.” 

Then Marilla flushed. She was a bound- 
out girl and had always taken her meals with 
Bridget. 

“Yes, I think so. We will see what the 
doctor says this morning. I shall have to 
go out presently and see twenty girls get 
started for a vacation. They are in stores 
and factories, and have two weeks in the sum- 
mer, and the Rest House doesn’t charge any 
board — they earn so little. When you are 
well enough to travel about, I must take you 
out to the House.” 

Maybe she wouldn’t have to go back to the 
babies right away! 

The breakfast tasted good, though it was 
only a poached egg and some toast. But 
she didn’t seem very hungry, and though she 
felt sort of joyously well at heart her body 
was tired and she lay on the couch to rest. The 


A Modern Cinderella 


94 

doctor found her quiet and there was a 
whimiscal light playing over his face and 
settling in his eyes. 

“So you haven’t run away yet?” he began. 

“I don’t believe I could run very far. Yet 
I seem quite well — and it’s queer, too.” 

Jane said you fainted yesterday. 

“Well it was — something, and then I was 
frightened — ” 

“Stand up a moment.” He helped her to 
her feet, then he passed his hand down her 
spine and over her hips. “Does it hurt any?” 
he asked. 

“No, not a real hurt.” 

“You fell off of the stoop over there, a boy 
said.” 

“The baby dropped something and I went 
to pick it up, I guess I stumbled. And when 
I turned round everything was upside down 
and black and I don’t remember any more 
until I was over here. Miss Armitage was so 
good, is so good.” 

“Yes; well it might have been worse. But 
I think now you are on the high road to health 
again.” 


The Fairy Godmother 95 

“I’ve never been real sick unless this is it,” 
and she gave a vague smile. 

“I think it is,” nodding humorously. “The 
babies have been rather too much for you 
this hot weather. Were you very fond of 
them?” 

“Well, they were not bad and very funny. 
You can’t love bad people.” 

“Oh, can’t you?” 

“No, you can’t,” with an emphasis. “You 
may like them and think they’re pretty and 
sweet sometimes, but you don’t truly love 
them I mean you wouldn’t choose them if 
you had you choice.” 

“Which you don’t often have in this world. 
Now what would be your choice?” 

“Oh, I’d like to stay here. I don’t know 
what I’d do if I was Miss Armitage’s bound- 
out girl. Jane does eveything and — cook 
does the meals. She might let me wipe the 
dishes. But — maybe you don’t know I’m 
bound-out to Mrs. Borden until I’m eighteen, 
so I shall have to go back. And the babies 
need me. I’m teaching them to talk. I’m 
almost Cinderella, not the kitchen kind, 
though I wouldn’t mind that with Bridget.” 


g6 A Modern Cinderella 

“I heard you went to the King's ball with 
a fairy godmother. Would you mind telling 

me?" 

Marilla colored. Yes, she would be quite 
pretty if she wasn't so thin. 

“Why it was just a dream. And I was 
asleep by the kitchen stove. I hadn't any 
belief in her at first. Oh, do you know any- 
thing about that curious part of your brain 
that dreams?" 

“No, I do not. I think no one really does. 
I suppose you had been reading about Cin- 
derella." 

“I used to read it over to the babies, or tell 
them. But there was Red Riding Hood and 
Jack and the Beanstalk and Hop o' My 
Thumb. Jack had them all, but I never 
dreamed of them. And the babies seemed to 
understand them all. They laughed at the 
funny places and they looked so shocked at 
the dreadful things, and were so pleased when 
the old wolf fell down the chimney, dead. 
Why it was just delightful to me, only some- 
times I did get tired talking so much and had 
to wait for my breath." 

“Are you tired now?" and he listened a 
moment to her heart. 


The Fairy Godmother 97 

“Oh, no. I feel all good and rested, and 
Jane said I ate a nice breakfast. I'm almost 
well, though I wouldn’t mind being ill a long, 
long while if I could stay here. There was a 
little girl once who died and went to heaven. 
Miss Florence had the book. That wasn’t any 
fairy story, and I think this must be a good 
deal like heaven. It’s so quiet with no one 
troubling you, and when Miss Armitage 
plays ” 

Her soft eyes were like wind-blown lakes and 
the far-away sight moved him inexpressibly. 

“Suppose you tell me about the dream?” 

“Oh, you’ll only laugh at me.” 

“No, I won’t laugh. I never knew a Cin- 
derella who went to the palace and danced 
with the King’s son.” 

He drew her up a little in the bed and placed 
the pillows around her. Then he seated him- 
self on the couch at her feet and smiled so 
persuasively that she really couldn’t resist. 
She pictured the kitchen and how comfortably 
she had settled herself and— she really couldn’t 
have been asleep she saw everything so plainly 
and, at first, she did not believe the fairy 
godmother. 


98 A Modern Cinderella 

Dr. Richards was really charmed as she 
went on. It was all so vivid, so beautiful. 
She appeared to have a better command of 
language than most children of her years ? 
and the whole picture was exquisite. Why, 
it seemed very real to him. And her face 
was a study. Surely the child must be a 
genius, she made the things so real and not 
overdrawn. A veritable fairy palace. 

Then she drew a long breath and a lovely 
smile irradiated her eyes. 

“Fm so glad I went,” she said in a satis- 
fied tone, freighted with a certain joyousness 
that appealed to his heart. She really was 
transfigured at that moment. What possi- 
bilities were lying in her soul unawakened. 
The little bound-out girl would never, could 
never realize them alone in her fight with life. 
For he had known: 

“Full many a flower is born to blush un- 
seen 

And waste its sweetness on the desert air.” 

When a helping hand would have trans- 
planted it into a garden of appreciation. 


The Fairy Godmother 99 


A sudden fatherhood stirred within him. 
He had thought more than once of the woman 
he would like for his wife; now he wanted this 
little girl to grow up by his side and bloom 
with the sacred joy within her. 

‘Tm glad, too,” he said in a strange, full 
voice that trembled with emotion. 


CHAPTER VI 


DOCTOR RICHARDS 

Doctor Richards went slowly down stairs, 
Miss Armitage let herself in with her latch 
key. 

“How is my little patienc today?” she 
asked. 

“Stronger in some respects. But I don’t 
quite like the heart action. And I’m afraid 
I haven’t improved it any.” 

“Oh, you did not scold her — ?” in a half 
upbraiding tone. 

“No, no. But I coaxed that dream story 
out of her and several other things. In a year 
or two more those Borden babies will have her 
all worn out. So many of the little Cinder- 
ellas don’t get half a chance with life, the 
stolid ones do better. But she could hold an 
audience with that story, if she was not 
afraid of the audience,” smiling a little, “and 
the lovely expressions that flit over her face! 
She is not the usual child.” 

“I’ve been a little afraid to think that. So 


Doctor Richards 


IOI 


many of the child prodigies flatten out and 
make ordinary people.” 

“And some of them never get the true 
opportunity. Fve a boy under my observa- 
tion who is going to make a first-class sur- 
geon, and Fm persuading a man to educate 
him. His father is going to put him in a 
foundry. Think of hands fitted for the nicest 
surgery being coarsened by contact with rough 
iron and hard tools. He would lose the fine 
touch by hard manual labor if he worked for 
his education. No one knows all the children 
sacrificed to Moloch. But the little girl! 
Of course she thinks of going back. She isn’t 
even tugging at the chain. But I, for one, 
don’t believe God puts people in just the place 
He wants them to stay, when He must see 
that they can’t work out. Well — did you 
get the girls off?” 

“Yes, and they were a delighted lot. Three 
only are to have their wages paid. Yet an 
employer told me about a week ago he had 
subscribed twenty-five dollars to one of these 
girls’ summer homes. That at four dollars 
a week would have paid six girl’s a week’s 
wages. His name goes down on the generous 


102 A Modern Cinderella 


list of course. Oh, I don’t wonder people 
like to do the things that show! The things 
that only God can know do not come up for 
credit. But it is ‘deal justly’ first of all.” 

“I’d like to stay and talk — but there is a 
serious matter before me. Take good care 
of our little girl — but I needn’t charge you . 
I’ll be in again tomorrow.” 

Miss Armitage went slowly up-stairs, paused 
a few moments at her desk to jot down some 
items. When she went through to the next 
room, Marilla was asleep/ The little face was 
framed in with rings of shining hair, the lips 
were palely pink and parted with a half smile, 
the skin still showed blue veins. With a 
little care, such as rich people gave their 
children, she might grow up pretty, she would 
always be sweet. And the pudgy babies with 
their wondering eyes loved her! 

Marilla improved slowly but surely. She 
walked from room to room, and one day she 
went down stairs to luncheon. Just the small 
round table in the recess by the side window 
set out with all manner of pretty dishes and 
a pretty glass basket of flowers in the center. 
And there was Jane to wait upon them, and 


Doctor Richards 


103 


she seemed so pleased to have Marilla down 
stairs though the little girl had held tight to 
the bannister, lest she should lose her balance 
and fall. Everything looked so cool and 
sweet. The pictures were of woods and lakes, 
or a bit of sedgy river. There were fine 
sheer draperies at the windows, a tall vase 
of flowers on the beautiful centerpiece that 
adorned the real dining table. 

Oh, how good the delicate asparagus soup 
tasted. And the cold chicken, the rice and 
the dainty potato cake. Marilla was all 
smiles inside, she could feel the quiver. She 
had not been waited on this way since the 
night in fairy land. Bridget had a way of 
shoving things toward you or asking you to 
get up and help yourself. But then, Bridget 
had done the cooking and was tired, and 
Marilla was glad to wait on her. 

After the dessert, they went through to the 
drawing room and that looked lovely to the 
little girl. There was a portfolio of engrav- 
ings on a sort of stand, and you could sit 
there and turn them over without any effort. 
There were so many pretty children among 
them, and some of royal families that were 
to be kings and queens. 


104 A Modern Cinderella 

The postman came and Jane brought in a 
handful of letters. Miss Armitage looked 
them over casually. Here was one from 
Bayside and she opened it. 

“My dear Miss Armitage,” it began. 

“I don’t know how we can thank you for 
taking Marilla in as you did, and by this time 
I hope she is about well. Mr. Borden comes 
up on Saturday moring to see a client and 
will call for Marilla at about two. We 
simply can’t do without her. We’ve had the 
most awful time! Two babies getting four 
teeth apiece are enough to drive one crazy. 
There was no trouble about the other teeth, 
but I think it would not have been so bad if 
we’d had Marilla. They have missed her 
and cried after her and no one could get them 
asleep until they were fairly worn out and 
then they sobbed in the most heartbreaking 
way. We’ve had no rest day or night. Ellen 
is very good and patient, but the babies 
simply won’t let her touch them. Marilla 
always knew just what to do. She was so 
entertaining. She certainly was born for a 
nurse girl, though I thought she was most too 
young when I took her, I’ve never let 


Doctor Richards 


105 


her lift them, for they’re like a lump of lead. 
They have grown thinner and I do hope it 
will keep on, unless Marilla makes them laugh 
so much they fat up again. They have each 
cut two teeth and they had to be lanced. 
Sister and I have had an awful time. We 
shall be so glad to get Marilla back. I think 
Ellen will not be a success as a child’s nurse. 
And I can get her a first-class place as a par- 
lor maid where she can have eighteen dollars 
a month, which I couldn’t afford to pay. 
There is a cook and a laundress kept, so she 
won’t lose by coming down. She is very nice, 
pleasant and tidy, and we had to have some 
one in the emergency. And poor little Ma- 
rilla must have gone to a hospital but for your 
kindness. We are all so obliged and if Mr. 
Borden can be of service to you, sometime, 
he will be very glad. These are the favors 
money cannot repay. 

“So if you will have Marilla ready about two 
o’clock on Saturday, Mr. Borden will call for 
her. If she needs a dress will you kindly 
purchase it and tell him. We have all her 
clothes down here. There is a beautiful big 
lawn with hammocks and everything, and 


io6 A Modern Cinderella 


if she is not very strong yet she can have sea 
bathing which is splendid, and fine diet. 
And we certainly are your deeply grateful 
friends. “Mrs. Mary Borden.” 

Miss Armitage read the letter over twice 
and watched the pale little girl enjoying the 
pictures. It was not quite a heartless letter 
but, it had no special sympathy for the poor 
little Cinderella, if she did not have to sit 
in the ashes. Then she laid it by and went 
at the others. 

“Please Miss Armitage, may I go upstairs? 
I am so tired. What do you suppose makes 
me feel tired so easily?” 

“You are not strong yet. Yes, we will go 
upstairs and you must lie down.” 

She placed her arm around the slender body. 
Marilla kissed the white hand. 

The doctor came in the next morning, and 
Miss Armitage handed him the letter. 

“Has the average woman any soul!” he 
exclaimed angrily. 

“Mrs. Borden has had no means of knowing 
how severe the case really was ” 

“See here, she might have written on — say 
Tuesday and inquired. Why Marilla might 


Doctor Richards 107 

have died with just a little more. She doesn’t 
go. She won’t be strong enough to bother 
with teething babies in some time yet, if at 
all.” 

“Oh, you don’t think ” 

“She has a weak heart. It may have come 
from the shock and there is time enough for 
her to outgrow it, with care. Are you going 
to tire of her?” 

She saw there was no doubt in his face and 
smiled. 

“Manila’s no more trouble than a kitten. 
Jane is positively in love with her. I’m not 
sure but I shall ask to have her transferred 
to me.” 

“Hilda Armitage you ought to be the mother 
of girls. I don’t know about the boys,” with 
a doubtful laugh. 

“I’ve had two disappointments.” 

“I told you that Conklin girl was not worth 
the trouble. She’s singing in a vaudeville 
show and it does suit her. You couldn’t get 
any refined ambition in that vain and silly 
brain. It is casting pearls before swine. Save 
the pearls for some one worthy. She doesn’t 
go back to the Borden’s this summer. When 
you get tired of her 


io8 A Modern Cinderella 


“Shall we quarrel about her?” She glanced 
up with an odd, humorous smile. 

“Perhaps we shall in the end, but that is a 
good way off. When that man comes today, 
just let him see Marilla.” 

Mr. Borden came punctually at two and 
was quite profuse in his thanks for Miss 
Armitage's kindness. 

“I regret to say that Marilla has progressed 
very slowly. She had quite an exhausting 
fever at first. She was not able to come down- 
stairs until yesterday, and lies down several 
times through the day.” 

“Is it possible! Why we thought — and we 
need her so much! Did you — ” he flushed 
a little, “have a good physician?” 

“An excellent one whose practice is mostly 
among children. He thought her quite worn 
out, but it was being overcome with the heat 
and she fell off the steps. It was near con- 
gestion of the brain I believe.” 

“I'm awfully sorry. We were so busy just 
then, and my wife was worried to death. 
The babies had always been so good, but I 
can't imagine anything being so — so dreadful 
as they've been for a week. I've scarcely 


Doctor Richards 109 

slept an hour at a time and Mrs. Borden is 
clear worn out. She thinks just the sight 
of Marilla would comfort them. We might 
go on keeping that Ellen, though the babies 
won’t take to her. I think Marilla charmed 
them; but they’re always been good until 
now. And there’s four more teeth to come 
through,” in a despairing sort of tone. 

Miss Armitage had large sympathy and she 
felt really sorry for him. Yet how provi- 
dential that Marilla had missed the care! 

“You have had a very bad time, certainly, 
and it is fortunate that Marilla didn’t give 
out on your hands. Would you like to see 
her, though I think she is asleep.” 

“Yes — oh yes. If we kept Ellen, don’t 
you think she might come down next week. 
The sea-bathing would no doubt strengthen 
her.” 

“She has some heart weakness. I’m afraid 
she couldn’t stand the bathing.” 

Then she rose and led the way up stairs. 

Marilla was asleep. Mr. Borden studied 
her in surprise. 

“Why, she’s grown dreadfully thin. Yes, 
she must have been very ill, but like the babies, 


no A Modern Cinderella 


she’d always been well. I’m awful sorry. I 
don’t know what we shall do. Mrs. Borden 
had counted so on her coming. And she said 
over half a dozen times that I must not for- 
get to thank you for all this kindness. You 
must send me the doctor’s bill. She’s such a 
nice child, Miss Armitage.” 

Marilla stirred and opened her eyes, closed 
them sighed and opened them again, then 
half murmured — “Oh, doctor,” and started. 

“Marilla, child, don’t you remember Mr- 
Borden?” 

“I had not told her about your coming. 
We keep her as tranquil as possible.” 

“Oh, Mr. Borden!” Marilla sat up. “And 
the babies?” 

“The babies are in a very poor way, Ma- 
rilla. They certainly are homesick for you. 
We try to keep them comforted with the 
promise of you. Oh, I hoped you would be 
well enough to go down with me this after- 
noon. Their mother will be telling them you 
will surely come. Poor little girl, but you 
are going to get well, aren’t you? And Jack 
thinks there’s no fun without you, and no 
one to read to him or tell him stories.” 


Doctor Richards 


1 1 1 


The child gave a vague smile. She was 
very glad to be away from Jack; indeed, sick 
babies did not appear attractive to her just 
now, but she said — 

“Oh, I’m' very sorry. The doctor said it 
was the heat and ” 

“It was awfully hot that week. That made 
the babies worse. Oh, if I could take you 
down just to amuse them. You made them 
laugh so, Marilla. You know just how to do 
it. Well — it can’t be helped, but you must 
try to get well and have some good of the 
pretty country place. Is there anything I 
can do for you?” 

“Miss Armitage is so good. And Jane and 
the doctor. And the yard is full of flowers. 
I’m very happy.” 

“I suppose so. Maybe you won’t want to 
come back. But you belong to us, you know 
and we can’t give you up.” 

Then he turned to go. 

“Will you kiss the babies for me and tell 
them how sorry I am, and ask Jack not to 
tease them, and — and — ” she swallowed over 
a great lump in her throat — “I shall come back 
when I get well.” 


1 12 A Modern Cinderella 


“That’s a good girl. Good-bye. I shall 
be in town next week and will come in and 
see you.” 

He gave the little hand a clasp. Miss 
Armitage went down with him. Marilla 
turned her face over on the pillow and cried 
as if her heart would break. Could she go 
back to the babies and Jack? And Bridget 
wasn’t as sweet as Jane, and there was sharp 
Aunt Hetty 

“My dear! My dear!” said the soft voice 
with its infinite pity, and the sweet lips kissed 
hers. 

“Oh, Miss Armitage, won’t God take you to 
heaven if you pray very hard? I should hate 
to leave you and the dear, nice doctor, but 
I’m afraid I don’t want to go back to the babies 
and Jack. I’m tired of them, and I feel as 
if it was foolish to be funny when there are 
so many sweet things to think of and books 
to read and your beautiful music. But I 
must go away from all that, and somehow 
heaven looks nicer. And when you die 
doesn’t an angel come and take you in his 
arms and just carry you up and up to the 
other side of the sky where everything is 


Doctor Richards 


1 13 

peace and loveliness, and no one will tor- 
ment you ” 

“Oh my child, perhaps God wants you to 
live here a little longer and do some work for 
him. The doctor would be very sorry not 
to have you get well. Some one might say — 
‘He let that little girl die when he might have 
saved her/ but they wouldn’t know it was 
because she kept brooding over it all the time 
and would make no effort to get well. God 
knows what is best for us.” 

“I didn’t mind about going back. But to- 
day it seemed to be — dreadful,” with a con- 
vulsive sob. 

“Then we have spoiled you. Oh, I am 
sorry for that.” 

“Oh, dear Miss Armitage, don’t be sorry 
when you have been so good. But I don’t 
quite understand how anyone can bind you 
out and make you stay years if you didn’t 
want to.” 

“But children do not know what is best for 
them. Some go wandering round the streets 
without any home and are picked up and put 
in a place almost like a prison where they have 
to work whether they like it or not. And some 


1 14 A Modern Cinderella 

even have cruel fathers and mothers. You 
said the Bordens were good to you. Would 
you rather be there or at the Home?” 

“Oh, I’d rather be there than at the Home, 
but ” and she swallowed hard over a sob. 

“If they worked you beyond reason or half 
starved you a complaint could be made but 
they all seem to love you ” 

Miss Armitage smiled with a soft kind of 
sadness, as if she wished the truth were not 
quite so true, and the things that looked 
so delightful were not so often the thing it 
was best to give up for honor’s sake. 

“Yes, they do love me, babies and all, and 
of course I must go back when I am well 
enough.” 

Then she turned her face away and tried to 
keep back the tears. Jane entered at that 
moment and the tension was broken. 

Miss Armitage read verses to her after she 
was in bed that evening, and kissed her good 
night with motherly tenderness. Then she 
sat for some time and thought. 

Why should she have taken a fancy to this 
little girl? She had seen prettier children who 
were homeless and helped provide for them. 


Doctor Richards 1 1 5 

The Bordens were not rough or heartless. 
Bridget had spoken well of them. The child 
had a comfortable home, and she was bound 
in honor. It would be mean to entice her 
to break the bargain, to make her dissatisfied. 
No, she must not do that. 

Miss Armitage’s life lines had run along 
smoothly through girlhood. Her mother 
was a widow and they had a comfortable 
income. Hilda had a good voice and sang 
in church, gave some music lessons. There 
had been a lover and a dear friend and the 
old tradegy had occurred, that might have 
been more heartbreaking if her mother had 
not been taken ill. For days her recovery was 
doubtful. Then an uncle at Los Angeles 
besought her to come out to that genial clime 
and spend her remaining days with him, for 
now he was quite alone. 

Hilda made all preparations. Such of the 
furniture as had intrinsic value was to be 
stored with a friend, the rest sold. And then 
Mrs. Armitage had an unlooked for relapse 
and Hilda went out alone. 

Her uncle was a kindly man past middle 
life and he took an instant fancy to Hilda. 


ii 6 A Modern Cinderella 

The house and its surroundings were loveli- 
ness itself. Life here would be really en- 
chanting. It was such a beautiful world. 

“But you have not seen half of it yet. 
Hilda, what would you say to going abroad? 
IVe wanted to half my life. But my wife, 
as you have heard, was an invalid and not 
inclined to travel. We lost our two children. 
I'm not too old to start out now and view 
some things with the eyes of an enthusiastic 
young girl.” 

So abroad they went. She had seven years 
of the richness of the old world, learning 
languages, listening to music that stirred 
every pulse of her soul, haunting art gal- 
leries with loving companionship that some- 
how saw the best and most beautiful in every- 
thing if it was not always high art. 

And then she returned alone. It seemed 
more of a loss than the death of her mother. 
She remained awhile in California settling 
up some business and then the longing seized 
her to return to the home of her youth, to have 
a real home where she could make the center 
she was still dreaming of, surround herself 
with friends and do something worth while 
with her money. 


Doctor Richards 1 1 7 

Newton had changed as well, enlarged its 
boundaries and made itself beautiful at the 
northern end. The shops and factories were 
kept down by the railroad center where 
two important lines crossed, and the river 
was navigable. Then Main Street was de- 
voted to really fine stores, Brandon to offices 
and men’s businesses, the Postoffice being 
there. A handsome library building adorned 
Broadway, there were Orphan Homes, an 
Old Ladies’ Home, a Social Settlement. 

Miss Armitage liked the aspect of it. 
Boarding at a hotel for awhile she looked 
about and decided on Loraine place. The 
houses stood in a row, but they had a pretty 
court yard in front, and a real stretch of 
ground at the back for grass and flowers and 
two fine fruit trees. 

Of course old friends sought her out. Per- 
haps the fortune helped. The young girls 
of her time were matrons with growing children. 
How odd it seemed! She thought some- 
times that she felt reprehensibly young, as 
if she was having girlhood over again in her 
heart, but it was a richer, wiser and more 
fervent girlhood, with the added experiences 
of the woman. 


1 1 8 A Modern Cinderella 


There were many things for her to take 
an interest in but they finally settled around 
the babies and little children’s hospital, and 
the Settlement House. In a way, she was 
fond of the sweet, helpless babies who seemed 
so very dependent on human kindness. If 
there was one of her own flesh and blood it 
would take possession of her very soul, all 
her thoughts, all her affection. But it should 
have been hers earlier in life. Now she wanted 
companionship. She could not wait for it to 
develop and then find unpleasant traits that 
had come from alien blood. No, she could 
not adopt a baby and wait a dozen years 
to know whether it would satisfy or not. 

She had helped two or three girls to better 
things. One through the last two years of 
High School and who was now teaching. And 
there had been one with a charming voice 
and an attractive face who had been injured 
in a mill and who would never have perfect 
use of her right hand. If she could be trained 
for a singer! 

She and Doctor Richards came to words 
about her. He said plainly she would not 
be worth the money spent upon her. But 


Doctor Richards 1 1 9 

Miss Armitage insisted on spending it a year 
when the girl threw up her friend and joined 
a concert troupe, slipping presently into 
vaudeville where she was a success. 

And out of the dispute came a proffer of 
love and marriage. Alvah Richards had 
begun life at the opposite pole from Miss 
Armitage. There had been a fortune, a love 
for the study of medicine, a degree in Vienna 
and one at Paris. Then most of the fortune 
had been swept away. He returned to Amer- 
ica and some way drifted to Newton. They 
were just starting the hospital and he found 
plenty to do. He could live frugally. To 
help his still poorer fellow creatures in suf- 
fering, to restore them to strength and teach 
them to be useful members of society, or to 
comfort them and make the path easier over 
the river to the other country; this was his 
highest aim. 

Miss Armitage was almost dumb with sur- 
prise. She raised her hand in entreaty. 

“Oh, don’t! don’t,” she cried. “It is quite 
impossible; it cannot be. I like you very 
much, but I am not in love. And then ” 

“Then what?” with eager eyes and in- 
cisive voice. 


120 A Modern Cinderella 


“You had a birthday last week. I heard 
you telling it. You are thirty-one.” 

“Well — ” There was a proud smile on his 
manly face. 

“And when my birthday comes, I shall be 
thirty-six. When you are sixty, rich in ex- 
perience, famous, a real man among men, I 
shall be quite an old woman. No, I shouldn't 
do it for your sake.” 

“As if a few years made any difference! 
Why you could discount seven years at least. 
Have you been loved so much that you can 
throw away a man's honest, honorable, tender 
love that will last all his life, that wear it 
as you like, in any stress, you can never wear 
out.” 

“Oh,” she cried. “You have spoiled a 
splendid friendship. I liked you so much, I 
have no love to give in return.” 

“Then let us be friends again. I would 
rather have you for a friend than any other 
woman for a wife. I simply will not give you 
up.” 

So the pendulum went on swinging evenly 
between the two points, when Cinderella en- 
tered both lives. 


Doctor Richards 


I 2 I 


And now it was Sunday morning and the 
chimes were pealing — “ Oh, come all ye faith- 
ful.” Marilla listened with a throb of joy, 
though she did not know the words they were 
saying in sweetest melody. Miss Armitage 
came and stood by the cot with a cordial good 
morning. 

Marilla stretched out her hand and glanced 
up with an entreating sort of smile. 

“Was I very bad last night?” she asked in 
a wistful tone. 

“Bad? Why — what was it?” 

“I’ve been thinking it over. Oh, I didn’t 
want to go back to Mrs. Borden. It is so 
lovely and quiet and beautiful here. But it 
is right. I am her bound-out girl, and I was 
glad to go there. You wouldn’t like me to be 
always looking for what was nice and pleasant 
and shirking other things, would you?” 

“Dear.” She stooped and kissed her. She 
had been going over some arguments fitted for 
a child’s understanding, and she was afraid 
of a rather painful time. And the worst to her 
was the fact that she had come to love the 
child and really desired her. 

“The babies, you know, are so fond of me, 


122 A Modern Cinderella 


and they are all very good. So I wouldn’t have 
any reason for not staying with them. And 
it will be only five years more, then I shall be 
eighteen. And I thought — ” flushing daintily, 
“that maybe Jane might marry, and you 
would want some one in her place and if 
it was — me,” rather tremulously — “I could 
come — I love you so. I’d be your Cinderella 
always. And when I go back it will be like 
the King’s ball — I shall keep thinking how 
lovely it was for you to bring me here instead 
of sending me to a hospital, and it will comfort 
me just as the music did.” 

Miss Armitage bent over and kissed her 
but there were tears in her eyes. She was 
touched with the child’s reasoning that was 
so like heroism. 

“Yes, dear,” she said. “We will think of 
it that way. And if you should be ill at any 
time, I will have you brought here, and you 
shall stop when you take the babies out and 
let me see them, and rest a little.” 

Oh that will be just lovely. You are so 
good,” and she kissed the white hand lying 
on her shoulder. 

Then Jane came in and she had her bath. 


Doctor Richards 123 

How delightful it was to be rubbed so carefully, 
to have her curly mop brushed. 

“I ought to dress myself now. Why I’m 
not sick at all only I get tired easily, but I 
am stronger every day.” 

The breakfast was so nice. And to be 
waited upon! Marilla gave an inward laugh 
of delight. 

And while Miss Armitage was at church, 
Dr. Richards came and bundled her up, car- 
ried her downstairs and deposited her in the 
buggy. He was very merry, somehow. He 
was going out in the country and, oh, how 
beautiful everything was! There had been a 
shower in the night and the air was full of 
fragrance from the grass, the pines and 
cedars, the orchards, wild flowers, and newly 
cut hay, that had not all been gathered in. 
Children ran about or swung in hammocks. 
Hens were fairly shouting with no regard 
for Sunday. Birds were caroling all sorts of 
joyous tunes and the tree twigs were gaily 
dancing. And here and there such beautiful 
drifts went over the sky, ships, she called them. 
They were going to fairy land— something 
that was not quite heaven, but a lovely place 


124 A Modern Cinderella 

for all that. There must be so many lovely 
places in this great world! Over the ocean 
where Miss Armitage had been, and she re- 
called the castles and palaces and beautiful 
woods, and peasants dancing on the green 
and laughing; that she had seen in the port- 
folio of engravings. And the legends she 
had listened to! Oh, if she could go to school 
and learn ever so many things now, for when 
she was eighteen she would be too old, and 
a kind of perplexity settled in her smooth 
forehead. 


CHAPTER VII 


A DAY TO BE REMEMBERED 

Dr. Richards had been studying the changes 
in the child’s face. It was like reading a book, 
but it had many variations. Her thoughts 
must have traveled far and wide. What were 
they? 

“Are you very happy?” he asked. 

“Happy?” she echoed, wonderingly. “Why 
it is a beautiful Sunday. One ought to be 
happy — here with you and watching all these 
lovely things.” 

“Are Sundays happier than any other 
days?” 

“Well — ” slowly. “They ought to be. 
It seems as if it was the day of the Sun, and 
that’s always glad and merry.” 

“But when it rains or is cloudy?” 

“Oh, you know it is there, and maybe He 
is fighting away the clouds. And He draws 
up the water. I read that in a book — and 
when He gets enough He lets it fall down as He 


126 A Modern Cinderella 


did last night and that makes the world so fresh 
and sweet. And there are fifty-two Sundays 
when you ought not ” 

“ What?” watching the shadow in her eyes. 

"Well, I think you ought not work very 
much. I suppose some people have to when 
you have meals to get and babies to see to. 
I go to Sunday school with Jack and I like 
it so much. I’ve learned ever so many of 
the songs. But the lessons puzzle me. They 
are about God — we had them in the Home, you 
know, and God seems so big and strange. Do 
you know all about him.” 

“No, child, and no one, not even ministers 
can know all, so you need not worry about 
that. God has the whole world in His 
keeping. Don’t you like the week days?” 

“Well, they don’t seem to have the same 
joy in them, only at Miss Armitage’s every 
day seems like Sunday. But I keep counting 
them. You see, I’ll be thirteen in September. 
Then when we’ve had fifty-two Sundays I’ll 
be fourteen and so on, until I am eighteen.” 

“And then?” in a sweet kind of tone. 

“Why I won’t be bound-out any more. It’s 
right for me to stay, she said so, but it would 


A Day to be Remembered 127 

seem such a long while if I was just counting 
the years. And Sunday comes so quick, 
most times, and then you can be glad.” 

What a touch of philosophy for a child! 

“But — they are good to you at Bordens?” 

“Oh, yes. I love Bridget, though I was 
afraid of her at first. But the grown people 
have each other and since I don’t really 
belong to them — oh, I can’t explain it,” 
and the knot came back to her brow. 
“You see when you’re bound-out and going 
away for a while they can’t feel the same 
to you. They’re never real cross and they 
don’t whip you as they did at the Home, and 
you have nicer things to eat. Sometimes 
when you were awful hungry you didn’t 
seem to get enough. You wanted one more 
piece of bread, but you couldn’t have it. 
Oh, I like it so much better at Mrs. Borden’s 
Only Jack — Are boys always bad?” 

“I guess they are for the most part,” 
laughing. 

“But he will go to school again. And his 
father says he will outgrow it. His father 
truly does want him to be good, and he said 
I must tell when he pinched me or kicked me, 


128 A Modern Cinderella 


and he would punish him. But I don’t like 
to, always, for he denies it, and his mother 
isn’t pleased when I do. You can feel when 
people do not like you to tell things. At 
the Home when you told tales they whipped 
the child that was bad, and then they whipped 
you for telling tales. It didn’t seem as if 
that was quite fair, so I tried never to tell 
on anyone.” 

“Generally speaking, it is a bad habit,” 
he commented, gravely. 

Then they had reached their destination. 
A poor old paralyzed man sat in a wheeling 
chair on the porch. Medical skill could not 
do much for him, but friendship and interest 
made pleasant times to remember when the 
hours were long and weary. Dr. Richards 
had brought some illustrated magazines, and 
they talked over the happenings of the week. 

A sweet-faced, rather elderly lady brought 
Marilla a rocking chair, and asked her if she 
was the doctor’s patient. Then she offered 
her a piece of cake and a lovely pear, and after- 
ward took her down to see the flower garden 
that was fairly rioting in beauty, and a flock 
of snowy white chickens, as well as some fine 


A Day to be Remembered 129 

pigeons that circled around like swallows. 
She was the wife, and there was a daughter 
who had gone to church. She talked of Dr. 
Richards, how good and comforting he was 
to “father.” Marilla thought he must be 
good to everybody. 

“I’ve had a lovely time with you,” the child 
said. Then she shook hands with “father,” 
who said — 

“I s’pose you’re the doctor’s little girl?” 
His mind was not always clear on some points. 
“Come again, won’t you?” 

She smiled and nodded. “The doctor’s 
little girl,” how sweet it sounded! But of 
course that could not be. 

They had a delightful ride home though it 
was growing warmer. How beautiful her 
eyes were today — a sort of gray- violet, and 
the bronze lashes almost curled. And as he 
listened to her soft, flowing voice, he kept 
thinking — if he was to marry some one and 
have a little girl full of quaint ideas as this 
one was! But it would take a long, long 
while, and he sighed. 

Miss Armitage was sitting by the parlor 
window when they returned, and she came to 
the door to meet them. 


130 A Modern Cinderella 

“I ran away with your little invalid /' 9 
the doctor exclaimed. “Haven’t I brought her 
back improved?” 

Her cheeks were positively rosy and were 
rounded out by the exquisite shading. She 
clasped her small arms around Miss Armitage. 

“And I’ve had the most splendid time! A 
real Sunday. We’ve been out in the beautiful 
country where birds were singing hymns and 
I’m just full of happiness.” 

They had kept their pact, these two people ) 
they could not have worked together other- 
wise, and each one was following the same 
path, for the good of the poor of this world. 

“I am very glad ” 

“Then you are not going to scold me?” with 
a questioning smile. “I promised her a 
drive you know, and today was rather a 
holiday to me.” 

“Why, she doesn’t scold,” cried Marilla 
in a sort of joyful contradiction. 

“Won’t you come in and have some dinner 
with us?” 

“Pete would grumble if he stood here an 
hour. Now, if you would change it to supper — • 
and a cup of tea ” 


A Day to be Remembered 1 3 1 

“Let be a cup of tea, then. I want to talk 
over some plans.” 

“Very well. Expect me on the mark. Six, 
isn’t it?” 

“Yes,” with a smile. 

“Oh, I’m just delighted,” and Marilla 
squeezed his hand. 

“So you had a lovely time. Where did 
you go?” 

“Oh — through the park and then out on 
such a beautiful road. Things seem nicer 
on Sunday, because there isn’t so much noise. 
And there was an old man who has to get 
about in a chair with little wheels, and can’t 
walk any more. And the lady gave me some 
cake and such a luscious pear, and asked me to 
come again. I just wished that there was 
some little girl from the Home living there.” 

Marilla had her face and hands washed, 
and a fresh white frock put on. She was so 
bright and chatty and really charming. But 
after dinner she lay in the Morris chair and 
Miss Armitage read her to sleep. It seemed 
as if she had improved so much in the 
twenty-four hours. 

They had such a genial and charming 


132 A Modern Cinderella 

supper, and Miss Armitage played on the 
organ afterward and then talked about the 
girls who were going to the Rest House next 
week. Five of them were very much worn 
out. They would need to stay a full fortnight. 

“And I think one of them needs some medi- 
cal attention. Come to the Settlement and 
see her before she starts. And you know 
I am booked for that Canadian journey with 
the Winslows. I am almost sorry I promised. 
Do you think it would be safe to let the 
child go to the Bordens on Saturday?” 

“You won't let her go back! She's is 
worth something better than baby tending.” 

“You shouldn't have cured her up so soon! 
I don't exactly see my way clear or I should 
keep her for good and all. I like her very 
much. You may laugh at me about my 
swans being ordinary geese — but we must 
admit the Bordens have the right to her at 
present. And I do not want to make bad 
friends with them, seeing that in law he may 
exact the pound of flesh. They may tire of 
her or she may not be able to stand the babies 
and Jack. I could leave her here with Jane 
or send her to the Home. But she is very 


A Day to be Remembered 133 

much resigned to the return. She has a 
curious bit of conscience about it. So it is 
best to let her try again.’ ’ 

“I can’t bear the thought of it.” He 
uttered it with vehemence. 

“I don’t like it much myself. But it 
seems the only way at present. Bridget will 
looks out for her. We can’t accuse them of 
any cruelty or neglect.” 

“And she fairly worships you — fairy god- 
mother.” 

“I wish I were. I should change the lot of 
more than one Cinderella. Well — we will 
wait and see.” 

Marilla came in with a bunch of flowers. 

“Jane said I might pick them for the 
doctor, and the ride was so nice. I shall 
put it in among the splendid things of my 
life — like the dream, and coming here — and 
when I get settled in bed and all is dark I 
can make a real fairy land out of it.” 

He took her flowers and kissed her, and 
said “Good-night” to them in a low tone. 
But he went home racking his brains to see 
if something could not be done toward keeping 
her. 


134 A Modern Cinderella 

Bridget came around one afternoon and 
was enthusiastic over her improvement. 

“They’re doing pretty well and I believe 
the twins are not to get any more teeth in a 
year or two. And the boss says they’ve 
thinned out astonishing, and they can talk 
a good bit. And that girl’s going to the other 
place and they say you just must come down. 
But not a foot should you stir if you wasn’t 
real well. An’ its glad enough I am to have 
himself at breakfast at the morn and dinner 
at night. It’s like living again, but I don’t 
want to see any more twins.” 

Marilla laughed. “Yes, I feel all well only 
sometimes I have a little catch in my breath; 
and I’ll be ready to go on Saturday.” 

“An’ I’ll just be praying to the saints to 
send you back safe and sound. I don’t see 
why people should be kitin’ off to strange 
places, when they’ve a good, comfortable 
house to stay in. But the saints be praised 
for the rest with that imp of a Jack being 
away! They do be grown up after awhile 
an’ I s’pose you couldn’t have men if there 
were no boy babies.” 

Then Mr. Borden called late one afternoon 


A Day to be Remembered 135 

and brought a note from his wife. Ellen had 
to leave on Saturday or lose the nice place, 
and the babies were well now, walking all 
round and beginning to say cunning words. 
Pansy called “Ilia, Ilia,” and then looked 
around for Marilla to come, and said — “Papa 
bing Ilia.” They wanted her so much. All 
their meals were taken over in the next cot- 
tage, and the laundress came twice a week for 
the washings. The children were out of 
doors most of the time, and they were on the 
ground floor, so there was no going up and 
down stairs. Marilla would have it very 
easy and they would take the best of care of 
her. 

Mr. Borden was both kind and gentlemanly. 
He hoped there would be some way in which 
they could repay Miss Armitage for all 
her care. Would she accept a contribution for 
the Babies 7 Hospital, he had heard she was 
interested in, or any other charity?” 

It was very nice of him, Miss Armitage 
thought, and she chose the hospital. Marilla 
had been out walking with Jane and when she 
came in Mr. Borden was so cordial that it 
won the child's heart, and she was the more 


136 A Modern Cinderella 

willing to go because she should lose her dear 
Miss Armitage for a month. 

“And afterward, you must come and see 
me and we will have nice times together, and 
I may teach you a little music — you learn so 
easily. Oh, I count on seeing a good deal of 
you.” 

The parting was not as bitter as Miss 
Armitage had feared, partly because Mr. Bor- 
den was there and in such good spirits, and 
Marilla was thinking that the month would 
soon pass and that in any event she could 
not see her dear fairy godmother in that 
time. 

The journey interested her very much. 
She had never taken so long a ride in the cars. 
Mr. Borden bought her a box of marshmallows 
and he had some illustrated papers. And 
there at the station was Miss Florence who 
gave her a cordial welcome, and the big 
surrey drove them and three other passengers 
to their destination. Mrs. Borden ran down 
the path to meet them. 

“I've been on pins and needles lest something 
should happen,” she began. “Why, Marilla, 
you don't look as if you had ever been ill! 


A Day to be Remembered 1 3 7 

And we’re so glad to get you back. Oh, you 
don’t know what an awful time I had, and 
at first the babies wouldn’t let Ellen touch 
them. Flo or I had to feed them. I’m clear 
worn out now, but I do hope the babies 
haven’t forgotten you, for I want a little 
rest. It seemed too bad that you should have 
given out just then. And I do believe you’ve 
grown taller. Why, you are quite a big girl.” 

The twins sat on a blanket on the grassy 
space at the side of the house. Mrs. Borden 
led the girl out to them with a glad sound 
in her voice. 

“Here’s your dear Ilia come,” she said. 
“Dear Ilia that you’ve wanted so much.” 

Pansy looked up. Marilla gave one spring 
and knelt down beside them. It was nice to 
be longed for, to be remembered. She had 
really loved them. Her heart was always 
reaching out for something to love. 

“Ilia, Ilia,” almost shouted Pansy and went 
down head first in Manila’s lap. 

“Oh, you darling!” 

“I’m glad you didn’t get weaned away, 
Marilla. I was afraid you would, having 
such a fuss made over you. Mr. Borden said 


138 A Modern Cinderella 

the house was fine. That Miss Armitage must 
be rich. Well — she was very good to you 
and did the best she could for us. But that 
Ellen didn’t like children, that was the long 
and the short of it, and she has just the place 
for her, and eighteen dollars a month. Yes, 
Violet, this is our own Marilla come back to 
us, and we shall never let her go away again.” 

Violet had looked rather wary and been 
chewing on the end of her thumb, but now 
she nodded and began to hitch toward Ma- 
rilla. 

“Now we’re going over to the cottage to 
dinner. It’s such a pleasure to go together. 
I always take Jack. He has nice table man- 
ners if he isn’t an angel otherwise. Oh, there 
he is! Jack, here’s Marilla!” 

Jack gave a sort of wild howl of delight and 
started on a run with outstretched arms. 
Over went Marilla and Pansy and Jack on 
the top of the heap. Pansy gave a smothered 
scream. 

Mrs. Borden caught Jack by the shoulder 
and dragged him up. “You bad, bad boy!” 
she exclaimed, angrily. 

“Hello! what’s the row?” asked Mr. Borden, 
advancing to the fray. 


A Day to be Remembered 139 

Jack rubbed his eyes to make some tears. 

“Well, you said you was glad to see her an’ so 
was I. An’ I was jest gone’ to hug her an’ 
the bug fell over, an’ I couldn’t help it.” 

Mr. Borden laughed. Mrs. Borden picked 
up Pansy and comforted her. But she did 
howl as if she had been half killed. 

“Jack, go to Aunt Florence and be made 
ready for dinner,” in a commanding tone. 
“Oh dear, it does seem ” 

“Well things will go better now,” said 
Mr. Borden soothingly. “Marilla, you are 
going to be the salvation of the household. 
Did the twins really know her?” 

“Pansy did, I think Pansy’s really smarter 
that Violet, I do hope we’ll have a little com- 
fort now. There Pansy, dear, go to your 
sweet Marilla,” and she stood the child 
down. “We must hurry or we will be late 
for dinner.” 

Marilla saw the four go over to the cottage, 
as it was called. She had been tired out 
with the railroad journey, entertaining as 
it was, then the excitement of meeting them 
all again, the bump on her forehead when 
she had come down so hard on Pansy’s head, 


140 A Modern Cinderella 

and the screams that seemed like a stab going 
from temple to temple tired her inexpressibly. 
Then, too, she was hungry. Oh, if she could 
have a glass of hot milk such as Jane used to 
bring her! She really could not help crying a 
little. Both babies stood up by her. Violet 
pounding on one shoulder, Pansy making a 
grab at her hair that seemed to pull it out by 
the roots. 

“Pitty, pitty!” she said gleefully. 

“Oh, Pansy dear, you hurt. She dis- 
entangled the one hand, but the other made 
the same clutch and was more difficult to 
manage. Then she rose to her knees that her 
head might be out of reach. Violet came down 
heavily and began to cry. Poor Marilla 
hardly knew what to do. 

The babies were much thinner and their 
faces not so pudgy, but Marilla thought they 
still resembled the Campbell soup little girl 
and laughed in spite of her own hurts. Then 
Violet spied a green apple and made a bee 
line for it. 

“She can't bite it," thought Marilla, and 
as it kept rolling it amused the baby. Then 
Pansy crept toward it and there was a rather 


A Day to be Remembered 141 

funny time. Violet slapped her twin in the 
face and there was another howl and Marilla 
went to the rescue. Oh, what should she 
do? Everything was so strange! 

“Bed'y mik, bed'y mik,” demanded Pansy, 
“Bed'y milk.” 

“Let us go and find some,” and she raised 
the baby to her feet, taking her by the hand. 
They walked up on the porch, and she placed 
her in the carriage while she glanced at Violet. 
Not a moment too soon — the little sharp 
teeth were making inroads on the apple. She 
ran and snatched it, throwing it out of sight. 
There was another howl. Mrs. Borden came 
hurrying down. 

“What is the matter?” rather crossly. 

“Violet found an apple and bit in it; I threw 
it away.” 

“Oh, that was right Marilla,” in a mollified 
tone. “Where's Pansy?” 

“On the porch, in the carriage. I think 
she's hungry. It sounded as if she meant 
bread and milk.” 

“Yes. They have that for their supper. 
I guess I can start it. I used to feed them 


142 A Modern Cinderella 

first. Let me see. I guess I can show you — 
you’re so handy unless they’ve spoiled you.” 

She had Violet in her arms and said — 
“Bring in Pansy,” leading the way to a room 
that seemed a general storage place. She 
lighted the little pyro stove, opened a closet 
and took out a saucepan, a bottle of milk, a 
sugar dish and some spoons. 

“Now as soon as it gets warm, you fix it — 
you cannot have forgotten how, and then turn 
this screw and put the light out. For 
heaven’s sake don’t set anything afire! Oh, 
there’s no place like your own home. I 
haven’t had an hour’s comfort since I came 
down here. And my dinner’s getting cold. 
Nice baked veal it was, with dressing. There 
babies, Marilla will give you some nice bread 
and milk.” 

She ran off. The babies whined a little and 
then watched the proceedings. The stove 
stood up on a table and she poured out part 
of the milk. Then she gave the babies a 
crust of bread to stop their clamoring while 
she crumbed up some in the saucepan and 
kept stirring it so that it shouldn’t scorch, 
taking out part, presently. Pansy climbed 


A Day to be Remembered 143 

up by a chair and began to call “Bed’y mik, 
bed’y mik.” 

Marilla put on her bib and began to feed 
her. Then Violet joined with her starvation 
cry. First it was one open pink mouth then 
the other. The viands disappeared as if by 
magic. She meant to have a little for her- 
self — she was so weak and gone in the stomach, 
but she found she must make some more, even, 
for the babies. So she crumbed up the re- 
mainder of the loaf. How they did eat! 
She was very tired of ladling it in each little 
mouth. 

She had a very little left for herself, but 
it seemed to help the desperately tired feeling. 
She had put the stove out without any mis- 
hap. Pansy began to cry — “Wock, wock.” 

“What is it dear? Was it anything more 
to eat?” She glanced through the closet. 

“Wock, wock,” hanging to her skirt. 

“Me wock,” joined in the chorus that might 
be Chinese, 

Oh, would they never come! She took the 
babies out on the porch. There was a big 
rocker. Pansy ran to it and patted it, 
rolling up her eyes. 


144 A Modern Cinderella 

“Oh, yes, Rock. I might have guessed, but 
my head feels so tired and queer.” Then she 
took the cushions and blankets out of the 
carriage and lifted up Violet, settling her in 
one side. But Pansy would have none of it. 
She squirmed down on the floor and began 
to cry. 

“Oh, I don’t know what you want!” 
Marilla almost fell into the chair and jogged 
it gently. Violet was going to sleep. Poor 
Cinderalla wiped the tears that would have 
run down her cheeks. She was so tired. 
Even the babies crying did not move her. 
But when she heard the voices she sprang up. 

“Oh, what is the matter?” asked Mrs. 
Borden. 

“They wanted to be rocked,” explained 
Marilla and I put them both in the chair, 
but Pansy wouldn’t stay ” 

“We have spoiled them. Ellen used to sit 
in the chair and hold them both. That 
seemed about the only thing she could do that 
would please them. And I’ve held one in the 
right and Aunt Florence the other until my 
back ached and I was fit to fall to pieces. We’ve 
had the most awful time, Flo and I. But I 


A Day to be Remembered 145 

remember I had a dreadful time cutting 
my wisdom teeth, and I was grown. I used 
to walk the floor at night, they would swell 
up so. We can’t blame the poor babies. 
And they missed you so. They used to be so 
good, wasn’t they M’rilla; and I suppose 
they’ll be good again. They must be un- 
dressed and put to bed. Flo, you look after 
Violet, and M’rilla you run over and get 
some dinner. You must be most starved.” 

Mrs. Borden had picked up Pansy who had 
now turned to her comforting thumb. 

“Oh, run over. You needn’t be afraid. 
Ellen liked the girls first rate. Here, Mr. 
Borden will escort you.” 

“I expect you’re tired out and homesick,” 
he said sympathetically. “But we will have 
things better tomorrow. And we are all 
so glad to have you — this way. Here, Katie, 
give this little girl a good dinner. She de- 
serves the best you have.” 

They were clearing the dining room. One 
long table was piled up with the used dishes. 
At the other, covered with rather worn en- 
ameled cloth, sat two women and one young 
man. Kate made a place for the child and 


146 A Modern Cinderella 

brought her a plate with most everything 
piled on it. Bridget, at home, was so much 
neater, but then she didn’t have so many 
hungry people to feed. And Jane with her 
dainty ways! 

Oh, she was just a little bound-out nurse 
girl. She had danced and feasted with the 
prince; she had been in the palace with the 
fairy godmother where she was waited on 
as if she were a little lady. And there had been 
the Sunday ride with Dr. Richards. Was it 
all dreams? 

She could not eat. The food was mostly 
cold. There was a big lump in her throat and 
a heaviness in her heart. How long and 
dreary the five years looked! 

“Pm not hungry,” and she pushed the 
plate away. 

“But you’ll have some pudding and some 
cream. I told you, Maggie, they’d stuff their- 
selves on that there puddin’ ! You can beat 
the band on that.” 

“I’ll just have the cream,” the little girl 
said, timidly. 

“Well you won’t last long to take care of 
them there babies if you can’t eat better’n 


A Day to be Remembered 147 

that!” said Katie. “I never see such squabs 
in my life!” 

“Oh, Katie, that won’t do. They’re 
‘Kate Greenaway’ children. Was she some 
one who fatted up young ones? Well, she’d 
better let ’em alone to my thinkin’. And their 
great round eyes! And the crossest things I 
ever did see! Mrs. Munson thought she’d 
have to give up t’other side of the house.” 

“Be careful,” cautioned Maggie, with a 
slight turn of the head. 

Marilla ate her cream, and it really tasted 
good. Then she rose and said good-night in a 
quiet fashion. 

“Katie, you must remember about little 
pitchers,” cautioned some one. 

“Well — that’s a nice little girl and I don’t 
believe she’d carry tales. Ellen said she 
wouldn’t take care of those babies for ten 
dollars a week. And what’s this child ever 
going to do ” 

“Mr. Borden is a nice kind of a man and 
when he’s around that Jack behaves like a 
little gentleman, and the ladies do very well* 
they’re pleasant and don’t put on airs. But 
what they’ll do with those twins ” 


148 A Modern Cinderella 

“Well, they won’t always be getting teeth. 
It’s a hard time with babies.” 

And so they gossiped while they washed 
dishesand set the kitchen in order for morning. 
If they had ever been Cinderella they had for- 
gotten about it. 


CHAPTER VIII 


A NEW GLIMPSE OF SERVITUDE 

Marilla wandered about a little. The stars 
were coming out and afar off the wood robin 
was singing his low sweet song. The dew was 
scattering the fragrance of flower and shrub 
and she drew in long breaths of it that seemed 
to revive her. Was Miss Armitage sitting at the 
organ and evoking the music that stirred one’s 
very being and made you wish unutterable 
things? And would Dr. Richards go to com- 
fort some poor patient tomorrow? 

Then she went to her new home. Miss 
Florence sat alone on the porch. The babies 
were soundly asleep. 

“Did you have a nice dinner?’ ’ she asked. 
“And I suppose you are very tired. Will you 
sit here awhile or would you rather go to bed?” 

“Yes, I would like to go to bed,” she an- 
swered, wearily. 

They went through the place they were 
using for a sort of kitchen and up a narrow 
stairway. Only part of the room had a fair 


1 50 A Modern Cinderella 

ceiling, the rest slanted down to some narrow 
windows. There was a cot, an old fashioned 
wash stand and a sort of closet. Their packing 
tranks were up here. 

“Mr. Borden had taken the other part the 
house first. There is more room and it is 
rather nicer. But the woman who had taken 
this wanted so to exchange and made an offer 
in the rent and they do charge scandalously 
for these summer places. And when you’re 
not keeping house it doesn’t matter so much. 
It saves lots of trouble. They just give meals 
over there and they are first rate. I put your 
clothes that we brought in that closet. It 
was very nice in Miss Armitage to get you 
some others and she wouldn’t let Mr. Borden 
pay for them. I want to hear all about her 
tomorrow. You won’t feel afraid, will you?” 

“Oh no,” was the reply. It didn’t seem to 
matter much what happened to her now. 

“Good-night, then, I hope you wall sleep 
well.” 

“Good-night,” steadying her tone. 

She thought she wouldn’t sleep at all, but 
her poor little body was so tired out that ex- 
hausted nature demanded rest. And she was 


A New Glimpse of Servitude 1 5 1 

awakened in the morning with the singing of 
some birds, and a beautiful poem floated 
through her mind. She would not count any 
Sundays until September came in. 

Mrs. Borden called her and she replied, dress- 
ing quickly and going down stairs. 

“Oh, you look quite rested,” said the lady. 
“I’ll give the babies their bath and dress them 
and then you will give them their breakfast 
and keep them out on the porch while we go 
for ours. They take only one nap now, sleep- 
ing from eleven until about two. They just 
have bread and milk. There’s a woman here 
who says I am ruining their health with that, 
because it makes them fat, but they were 
fed when they had only milk. Then they 
have some oatmeal, jelly and a soft boiled 
egg when they wake up. There’s nothing 
like system; you know just what to do. Now 
you go over to the kitchen and get a bottle 
of milk. The babies drink that, too. Then 
I’ll show you how to light up the stove. It’s 
the handiest little thing. I couldn’t manage 
without it.” 

Marilla had a pleasant greeting from Katie 
who declared, “she looked ten per cent 


152 A Modern Cinderella 

better and hoped she would have a good 
appetite for her breakfast as she didn’t eat 
enough to keep a bird alive last night.” 

The babies were pretty good natured, as well. 

“You know they always were real sweet,” 
said their mother, “and so easily amused. I 
hope you haven’t forgotten your knack of 
story telling; and how they used to laugh! 
That Ellen was the stupidest thing.” 

While she was feeding the babies, the grown 
folks went over to their breakfast. The kitchen 
and the servants’ table was in much better 
order, and there were some delightful muffins 
and fresh fish and muskmelons. The babies 
played about; Jack’s father took him out for 
a walk, then there was a long quiet time at the 
luncheon hour, and the babies were fed 
again. 

“I succeeded in getting a two-seat carriage, 
so we will all go out this afternoon,” said 
Mr. Borden. “They say Braun is a queer 
Hungarian settlement and on Sunday the 
people are all out in their best. We’ll take a 
look at it.” 

“Can we all go?” 

“Why Florence said she wouldn’t mind 


A New Glimpse of Servitude 153 

caring for one baby, and Marilla can take the 
other.” 

The two nurses had the back seat, Florence 
made Marilla put her baby between them on 
the seat. “We’ll change off when I get tired 
of holding mine,” she said. 

They went straight over to the Sound — the 
upper end of the great South Bay. Oh how 
splendid it was! Marilla almost held her 
breath with surprise, then they drove up the 
road a short distance, but she hated to leave 
the glorious views. Pansy dropped in her 
lap and went to sleep. As they turned they 
passed through one of the magnificent resi- 
dential settlements, then to the odd Hungarian 
town where a foreign Sunday was in full life 
and vivacity. 

Little tables were standing around, some 
filled with families, some having a couple of 
lovers ; other parties were walking up and down ; 
all in picturseque holiday attire. The tables 
were set out with small, hard brown cakes, slices 
of bread that each had brought to the feast. 
There was beer of course, merrymaking and 
jollity — but no one seemed to overstep the 
bounds. Children ran around, grotesque 


154 A Modern Cinderella 

copies of their elders. Rows of cottages and 
gardens, great corn and hayfields, stubble 
where cattle were browsing, enclosures of 
fattening pigs whose squealing had a mirthful 
sound. 

“It is well worth looking at,” said Mr. Bor- 
den. “A bit of Europe on one of our islands 
and really a lesson to our own thriftless poor.” 

Violet chattered in a funny fashion, but 
Pansy slept through it all. Marilla tried 
several times to shift her position, but the 
little form was too heavy to stir. Yet it was 
delightful, though she kept thinking of last 
Sunday and Dr. Richards. 

Mr. Borden stopped at the gate and helped 
them out. 

“Lift Pansy, she’s asleep,” said Aunt 
Florence. 

“Oh, Marilla, why didn’t you keep her 
awake! I’ve been trying not to let them 
sleep in the afternoon so they would go to 
bed the earlier.” 

“Just as you get a baby in good habits, 
someone comes along and spoils it all,” 
exclaimed Mrs. Borden in a vexed tone. She 
was a little tired, having answered at least 
fifty questions for Jack. 


A New Glimpse of Servitude 1 5 5 

But Pansy woke when her father stood 
her down, and said, rather drowsily — * “Nice 
horsey;” and sat squarely down in the path. 
Aunt Florence picked her up and led her to 
the porch. 

“Now, Marilla, get their suppers ready 
and feed them. And put away their things. 
I can’t bear to see them lying round on chairs.” 

Mr. Borden drove off, taking Jack. 

“Ont bedy-milk,” announced Violet. 

“Yes, yes; go to Marilla.” 

The child had laid the caps in the drawer 
and hung up the coats. Both children came 
out and clamored for supper and pulled on her 
skirt until they almost tipped her over. 

Then the great bell clanged for the boarders’ 
supper. They had dinner at noon on Sun- 
days. Mr. Borden returned and escorted 
the ladies over. This was always a rather 
chatty, long-drawn-out meal. 

Marilla fed the babies, washed and put 
away her few dishes, then took the children 
out on the porch. Violet wanted to be 
“wocked,” so she sat beside her in the big 
porch chair. Pansy ran up and down utter- 
ing queer unmusical noises. The piano in the 


156 A Modern Cinderella 

other part of the house was accompanying 
a singer. 

The mistress of that part leaned out of the 
window and said in a sharp tone — “Can't 
you keep that child still? She's an awful 
nuisance." 

“Let us go indoors/' said Marilla. “Come, 
and I'll tell you a story about a bunny that 
got lost away from all his folks." 

But Pansy had no mind to come. She 
screamed when Marilla took hold of her arm 
and then kicked, jerking away, she rolled down 
the three steps, landing on the grass. Marilla, 
frightened, picked her up in her arms and ran 
through the hall with her. The suddenness 
had really taken the breath out of the little 
body for a moment, then she looked rather 
wildly at her rescuer. 

“It didn't hurt you much and you were a 
naughty baby to run away! Don't cry any 

more and you shall have " she cast 

about to see what solace there was — “oh, 
you shall have some sugar — see — " and 
she offered her some in a spoon. 

Pansy laughed and reached out for the 
sugar, quite restored to good humor. 


A New Glimpse of Servitude 1 57 

“Now, Til go out and get sister and you 
shall have some more sugar.” 

Violet came in quite willingly. She sat on 
the floor with them and thought of the stories 
she used to tell. This one was about a run- 
away squirrel. It grew dark and he was afraid, 
for he heard a queer noise that kept saying, 
“Who — who,” so he ran another way. Then 
a dog barked, and Marilla made the sound 
of a dog and both babies laughed delightedly. 
“So he ran as fast as he could but the dog 
ran, too, and the squirrel climbed up in a 
tree,” and Marilla climbed with her hands 
on the back of the chair in a funny fashion. 
“ ‘Come down/ said the dog. T won't/ said 
the squirrel. ‘Then I'll climb up and eat you. ' 
But the squirrel laughed and said: ‘You can't 
climb a tree.' ” 

The babies laughed, too, but Violet wanted to 
be “wocked” again. She really was sleepy. 
So Marilla put them both in the rocking chair 
and began another story about a bird who had 
three little babies in a nest and had to go 
out and get them something to eat. The 
ladies came back and Violet began to nod 
and let her eyes droop. 


158 A Modern Cinderella 

“They must go to bed,” said their mother. 

It was supposed that Pansy would make 
a protest. She slipped down out of the chair 
and held out her fat little hand, murmuring — 
“Ilia, Ilia.” 

“Well, Ilia shall put you to bed, come 
Violet.” 

Mrs Borden found their nighties. “Me 
too,” and Violet took hers over to Marilla. 

“Now, isn’t that cunning? Marilla they 
are getting back all their old love for you! 
But it is time I had a little rest.” 

The babies were safely deposited in their 
crib, each with a thumb in her mouth, a rather 
recent habit. Then they went out on the porch 
again. Jack was there with his chum, Stevie. 
The ladies joined the procession up and down 
the board walk. Stevie was recounting some 
wonderful experience, so Marilla dropped into 
a chair and her mind went back to last Sun- 
day night. How long ago it seemed! 

Stevie was summoned home by his nurse. 
Quite a party went to the kind of sacred 
concert. Jack crawled up beside Marilla, for 
he was getting sleepy. When she proposed 


A New Glimpse of Servitude 1 59 

he should go to bed he turned obstinate and 
held on tight to the arm of the chair. 

“I won’t go to bed. I’m going to stay here 
until mama comes.” 

“Oh, you must. The clocks have struck 
eight.” 

“But I’m not going to.” He caught the 
arm of the chair. “You try now and I’ll kick 
you with my hind leg.” 

She knew well enough that he would kick. 
Somehow she did not feel equal to the struggle. 

“Tell me a story,” was his next demand. 
“About somebody being put in the pit. Sun- 
day school teacher told it. Why, I’d climb 
out.” 

So she told him the story and then another, 
rocking slowly, and as the demand ceased she 
knew he was asleep. But she did not dare try 
to get him to bed. So she went to her own 
thoughts, the last week passed with the fairy 
godmother and Dr. Richards. 

It was ten when the family returned. 

“Oh, Marilla, how could you let him go to 
sleep! He’s so cross when you wake him up.” 

“I couldn’t get him to go — — ” 


160 A Modern Cinderella 


“Jack!” His father picked him up and 
carried him to the sleeping room. 

“Now you run to bed,” said the mistress, 
still sharply. 

It was very well, Marilla thought, that Jack 
had a companion who was not fond of “kids.” 
Stevie lived quite a distance below and had 
brought no end of playthings, had an auto 
wagon that two could sit in, though only 
one could be chauffeur. So Marilla had the 
babies out on the side lawn all the morning 
in the shade, and after their nap took them 
out in the carriage. They were quite fond 
of walking, too. They really were rather 
amiable again. 

“Miss Florence, could I have some paper 
and a pencil?” she asked during their noon- 
tide nap. “I promised to write to Dr. Richards 
and tell him if I kept well.” 

“Why not to Miss Armitage?” was the 
inquiry. 

“She was going to Canada, and — Fm quite 
well again, and the babies are so much better. 
He will be glad to hear, for he felt very sorry 
about them, and he said I must write.” 


A N ew Glimpse of Servitude 1 6 1 

“I suppose Miss Armitage’s house is very 
grand, much finer than ours?” 

“It’s beautiful and she has such a lovely 
organ. Well, it’s different and there are two 
big parlors and some curious things that I 
never saw before and chairs in beautiful 
light blue, all flowered, and some tall vases 
and marble statues. And there’s Jane and 
Norah — and the wash goes out. Yes, I sup- 
pose she’s rich.” 

“And you’d like to live there?” 

“Perhaps she wouldn’t want me,” the child 
said simply. 

Evidently there had been no talk about it. 

Miss Borden gave her pencil and paper. 

Marilla went to the kitchen nursery, sat 
down on a stool and put her paper on the 
bottom of the wooden chair. She began — 
“Dear Dr. Richards.” Oh, there was so much 
to say! She was well and the babies were 
improved and could talk a good deal and looked 
better for not being so fat. She really liked 
home better and Bridget’s kitchen was so 
clean, and there was always a nice white 
cloth on the table. It seemed a funny way 
to live but many of the people did not have 


1 62 A Modern Cinderella 


meals in their own houses, but went over to 
the eating place. “I can’t spell the other 
word,” she admitted naively. There were so 
many pretty girls in lovely frocks who walked 
up and down and didn’t have to take care 
of babies. “I don’t believe I am as fond of 
babies as I used to be. I get tired of having 
them every day,” she explained frankly. ‘ ‘ And 
soon I shall begin to count on the five years.” 

She filled up the whole sheet, folded, 
slipped it in the envelope and fastened it. 
Oh, she must ask for a stamp. She could run 
down to the postoffice. 

Miss Borden was curious to know what 
was in the letter, whether Marilla had found 
any fault with her surroundings, but the eager, 
honest face disarmed curiosity that could 
not be easily gratified. So the letter went its 
way. 

There were many things to entertain a 
child whose former life had been narrow. Some 
of the girls spoke to her. “Were the babies 
her sisters?” 

“Oh, no. She was — well their nurse.” 

“How odd they looked! Is that little Jack 
their brother?” 


A New Glimpse of Servitude 163 

“Yes.” Oh how ardently she wished they 
were, pretty. 

“He looks more like you than like them. 
You’ve both got such pretty curly hair, 
though his is darker. I think curly hair’s 
just lovely. I wish mine curled, and you’ve 
such a pretty dimple in your chin.” 

Marilla blushed at the praise. 

“What are the babies called?” 

Marilla repeated their names. 

“That’s funny — they’re so much alike.” 

“Well — they’re twins,” said another. 

Then the babies thought it was time they 
joined in the conversation, and a funny mess 
they made of it. Pansy said — 

“Ont to dit down.” 

“No, you can’t,” answered Marilla. “Their 
mother said I must never take them out.” 

They happened to be strapped in very 
securely. But Pansy made a great fuss and 
gesticulated furiously with her little fists. 

“I had better go on,” said Marilla. 

“It’s awfully funny. Does she often get 
in such a tantrum?” 

“Not very often,” returned Marilla half 
ashamed and almost afraid the baby would 
break the strap. 


164 A Modern Cinderella 

After a few days she began to get quite ac- 
quainted with some of the girls. They came 
from various places and were quite ready to 
talk about themselves. There was to be a 
lawn party next week at the Sheldon’s, just 
for the girls, and they were going to dance.” 

“Oh, did you ever go to a ball?” asked 
Marilla. 

“Why, girls don’t go to balls! They are 
for the big folks. My grown up sister does 
and they’re just splendid.” 

She had half a mind to tell them about 
the beautiful dream and how she had danced 
with the Prince. But Pansy was going on at 
such a rate that she pushed the carriage along 
and by the time they reached home she had 
forgotten her trouble. 

And there was a letter from Dr. Richards. 

She wanted to kiss it, she was so glad, but 
Mrs. Borden stood there, so she simply said — 
“Thank you,” and opened it. 

It was quite to a child’s capacity. Marilla 
smiled in some places, looked sad in others. 
The little boy who had been so dreadfully 
injured by an automobile had died, but he 
would have been a terrible cripple if he had 


A New Glimpse of Servitude 165 

lived. There had been two very hot weeks 
and the poor babies had suffered. He was 
very glad to hear that the twins were doing 
so nicely, and had all their teeth safe and 
sound. And was she growing stronger, and 
did she have a chance to take the baths 
he advised? Miss Armitage was having a 
fine time. And a friend was to take them in 
his yacht around the islands in the Gulf of 
St. Lawrence and come down to Nova Scotia, 
so she wouldn’t be home as soon as they ex- 
pected. And he was so busy he couldn’t have 
any vacation at all; but then he had taken 
years before and must be satisfied. 

There were bits of fun and queer sayings 
interspersed that made a sort of jolliness in 
her face. 

“Don’t you want to read it?” she asked, 
rather timidly. 

“Mrs. Borden just did. She and Florence 
had wondered whether Marilla had made any 
invidious comparisons about the change to 
actual service instead of being treated as a 
guest in a fine house. 

“If — you’d like me to,” with the proper 
hesitation. 


1 66 A Modern Cinderella 


“Oh, yes. And I used to tell him about the 
babies, that they were so good and hardly 
ever cried, and how I told them stories and 
they laughed just as if they understood — 
didn't they?” 

“You made them understand. You’re an 
odd little girl, Marilla, and I don’t know 
what we would do without you, but then you 
do really belong to us. I do suppose the 
baths would be a good thing if you were not 
afraid. Now, we can’t coax Jack to go in the 
water, though he delights to run along the 
edge barefooted. That’s fun for the children. 
But you see if we all went some one must 
look after the children. Then there’s the time 
for their nap and there’d be no one to go with 
you. There seems so many things to do in the 
afternoon now that we have joined the 
Clubs. And there’s teas and things ” 

“Yes,” Marilla returned, meekly. 

“Why wouldn’t you go in the water?” she 
asked Jack a few days afterward. 

“’Cause there’s sharks. Stevie said so. An’ 
they eat up people.” 

“Why don’t they eat up — well, they haven’t 
eaten up any one yet. We should have heard 
of it.” 


A New Glimpse of Servitude 167 

“They only eat up children. The big folks 
kick ’em out of the way. But you’ve got to 
be real strong an’ have a big foot. You just 
give it to ’em by the side of the jaw and they 
flop down in the water. That big Jimmy Lane 
has seen them lots of times.” 

There was a great sand heap where the 
smaller children went to play and tumble 
about and build forts and ovens and some- 
times sand each other. Marilla took the babies 
out in the carriage after they had their dinner 
and were dressed afresh. Sometimes she met 
the girls sauntering about, sometimes with the 
nurse maids. The two ladies went to a 
Whist Club, and one afternoon played Bridge, 
and between times they met on each others’ 
porches. 

The afternoon of the children’s lawn party 
the street was fairly thronged. There were 
growiTphople within the enclosure by special 
invitation. And how pretty the young people 
were in their beautiful summer attire with 
laces and ribbons and bead chains and white 
ties with a great bow almost as big as the foot. 

There were four pieces of music. Oh, the 
dancing was just bewitching? Marilla drew 


1 68 A Modern Cinderella 


long breaths and wished she was among them ; 
every pulse in her body kept time. The trees 
waved and nodded, some birds sang and there 
were sounds of happy laughter. 

“Get away from here with this big caboose 
of yourn!” said a rough voice, “you take up 
too much room,” and he wheeled the carriage 
around so suddenly the babies almost toppled 
over. “Other people want a chance. Get 
along, I say!” 

She had no choice but to go on. 

“I’m glad he sent off that nurse girl,” ex- 
claimed a woman with two children clinging 
to her skirts. “Those great wagons are such 
a nuisance!” 

Marilla crossed the street and went slowly 
up and down. When the throng moved about 
a little she could see the white fairy figures 
floating over the greensward, and hear the 
music that set one’s nerves a-tingle. The 
outside crowd began to disperse, but the man 
loitered about, so she did not dare go back. 

Then they brought out some tables on the 
lawn and began to arrange them. Oh, how 
daintily pretty it was! She recognized some 


A New Glimpse of Servitude 169 

of the girls, and in spite of her courage, 
sighed as she turned away. 

Those were the sisters for whom the coach 
and four waited, with the footman and 
outriders, and who would be made welcome 
at all the grand functions of life, while the 
Cinderellas were relegated to the chimney 
comer. And’the godmother must come out of 
fairy land, if she came at all, and transformed 
one with a wand. That was why the glories 
were so unsubstantial, and why the dream 
must end at midnight. 

The babies were clamoring for supper. 
The house was all alone. She lifted them out 
and helped them up the steps, then gave them 
each a biscuit while she prepared their bread 
and milk. The ladies came home from their 
Whist. Mrs. Borden had won the first prize 
and they were talking as eagerly as boys over 
a baseball score. There was Jack, dirty and 
tousled as any tramp. 

“Wash him up Marilla and put him in some 
clean clothes or we’ll be late for dinner. 
Come, be quick, child.” 

That was the portion of the Cinderellas. 


CHAPTER IX 


THE LITTLE THORNS 

They were all very glad to be home again. 
The house was so clean and orderly and there 
were so many closets and drawers in which 
to pack away things. Bridget had scoured 
and scrubbed and polished windows largely to 
pass away time, for the people next door had 
been away as well and the maids on a vacation 
earning money at seasides. 

“Oh, I'm so glad to see you again!" 

Marilla was hugging Bridget and her tone 
was full of delight. 

“Ah, dear, an' it's glad enough I am to get 
ye back, but you've not grown very fat an' 
rugged looking, but them babies do beat all! 
They're quite ginteel one may say, an how they 
do run and talk! You'll have your hands full, 
I'm thinkin', if they're goin' to copy Jack!" 

“Oh, Bridget, they're real sweet, only 
they're noisy when your head's tired. It 
sounds worse indoors. There was a big out 
of doors and grass, and people passing and 


The Little Thorns i 7 1 

some children came in to play. But now you 
have to look after them all the time.” 
"Manila! Marilla!” 

No, she could not waste her time in the 
chimney corner. 

“Put on the babies’ things and take them 
out walking, they’ll drive me crazy.” 

She walked them round to Loraine place. 
Would she dare call? Oh, how her heart 
yearned to see them all again! but the blinds 
were drawn; perhaps no one was at home. 

Then as they were going down the street, 
just at the corner, a lady and two girls about 
her size crossed. The lady and one of them 
lived about a block further down Arch street. 
The other she had known at the seaside. 
She smiled with a sudden pleasant surprise. 
The girl simply stared. Manila’s face was 
scarlet. Was it possible she was not to know 
any of these girls if she should meet them? 
This one did not live here, she knew that. 

Then Aunt Hetty came home looking thin- 
ner and more dried up than ever, but glad to 
get back to her room. She would not come 
down to dinner but M’rilla could bring her 
up some toast and tea. 


172 A Modern Cinderella 

So instead of having a cozy time with 
Bridget she carried the small waiter up stairs. 
The tea was in the pot; Aunt Hetty had the 
kettle boiling on the gas stove. The toast 
was on a hot plate. 

“Sit down a minute, I’ve hardly seen you. 
Did you have a nice time? I suppose the 
twins will be on the everlasting trot, now they 
can walk so well, and as for talking — well I'm 
glad I don't have to live with them; that I'm 
clear this end of the house. You see that they 
don't come up stairs. It's nice to be in your 
own place, though the folks where I staid were 
very good and pleasant, I s'pose they thought 
I might remember them in my will," and she 
gave a shrill sort of cackle. “Now I tell you 
there isn't much fun in living to be old, and I 
seem to have lost my spunk. It's just a kind 
of drowsing life away. Now tell me what you 
did! My, but this toast tastes good! Better 
than all their flummery." 

“Oh, there were a good many nice things 
and pretty houses and gay people, and a big 
place where they all went to meals. And Jack 
is better than he used to be, he had the nicest 
little playmate and was out of the house most 


The Little Thorns 173 

of the time. But I must run down, for Bridget 
said my dinner was ready. I’ll come up again 
when the babies are in bed; can I bring you 
anything?” 

“Well, yes, a glass of hot milk. No, bring 
it in a cup with a handle — it is so much nicer 
to hold. You’re a good willing girl, Marilla.” 

“I thought you never would get down,” 
Bridget said, almost crossly. “If you have to 
wait on that old woman and all the rest of us 
you’ll wish you were in the grave. My! You 
look all tired out. Now, here’s a nice bit of 
chicken that I laid aside for you. I’m not 
goin’ to have you fed on leavings. And it 
wasn’t nice down there?” nodding her head. 

“Oh, Bridget, such a kitchen and such a table, 
and no white cloth on it! They, the servants 
didn’t seem to care, and they were nice and 
clean at the Home, and you’re — well, you have 
things as nice as in the dining room, and to 
have things shoveled out of the kettle on your 
plate or cold on a dish! Sometimes pud- 
dings were good, and the creams and frozen 
things were clean and nice. But I’m so glad 
to get back to you. And the lovely bath 
room! We didn’t have any in the cottage. 


174 A Modern Cinderella 

Why it saves half the work taking care of 
babies.” 

“You bet it does, I couldn’t and wouldn’t 
live in such a muxy kitchen. If I couldn’t 
have things to suit I’d take French leave, 
though I guess I’d call it Irish leave. And 
people, women, think it a fine thing to go off 
and live that way. But the boss got very 
tired of it.” 

Manila laughed faintly. She was almost 
too tired to eat, but the chicken was so tasty, 
and the fresh home-made bread delightful. 
And the cheery voice put heart in the girl. 
Then the dessert was delicious. 

“I promised to take Aunt Hetty a cup of 
milk. I’ll see first if Mrs. Borden wants me. 
But I’ll dry the dishes for you.” 

No, dear, I did the most of them while you 
were up stairs.” 

The babies had been put to bed. They did 
have an unlimited capacity for sleep, now that 
they were well. Jack was perched on his 
father’s knee detailing some wonderful ad- 
ventures. No, they did not need her. 

“I’m going in next door awhile,” said 
Bridget on her return. Mrs. Dawson’s girl 


The Little Thorns 


175 


left in a huff, and she asked me if I knew any- 
one. And there was my friend, Maggie Brady, 
just out of a place and a nice tidy girl; a good 
cook, too. So they both suited. Maggie’s 
mother and mine lived in the same town. 
It’s nice to have a friend at hand. And when 
ye’s through with the old lady I’d run to bed. 
You look tired as a wagon wheel that’s run 
round and round.” 

Marilla laughed and took a bottle of milk 
with her. Aunt Hetty drank a good cupful, 
hot, and the remainder was set out on the 
window sill. Then she settled herself in bed 
with two pillows under her head; she could 
hear better she thought. 

“Now, you open that book at the mark and 
read to me. ’Twon’t be very interesting, for 
you can’t know what’s gone before. And no 
doubt I’ll fall asleep — I always snore a little 
at first, and when you hear that you may light 
the burner in the other room and turn it very 
low and put the window down from the top 
and skip off to yourself.” 

She was very tired but she read quite 
awhile before the gentle snoring began, and 
she was glad enough to go to bed. 


176 A Modern Cinderella 

They had been home just a week when 
school opened. It was a comfort to get rid of 
Jack. They began to settle into quite regular 
living. 

“I’ve just had a fright,” said Mrs. Borden, 
coming up to her sister’s room. “A man has 
been here inquiring about school children and 
I did stretch the truth a little. You see, now 
children have to go to school until they are 
fourteen. I simply can’t let Marilla go. I 
didn’t adopt her nor consider her in any sense 
my own. A child like that isn’t worth more 
than her board and clothes. What good 
would she be to us if we had to get her off at 
nine in the morning, and then have only an 
hour in the afternoon. The twins must be 
taken out, and there’s so much running up and 
down. She’s a nice honest, truthful child and 
a born nurse girl. But if I had to send her to 
school, I’d trot her off to the Home.” 

“There is so much to do this winter. When 
you come to that, she knows enough for ordi- 
nary, and later on she could go to evening 
school. There’s so much shopping and plan- 
ning, and we must be out a good deal. The 
twins mightn’t take to a new girl. Let us keep 
her if we possibly can.” 


The Little Thorns 


177 


“Miss Borden’s lover was to return before 
Christmas and wanted every thing ready for a 
speedy marriage. It would be in church with 
a very small reception afterward. And that 
was hardly three months’ distance. 

Marilla was coming home with the babies 
one afternoon when two lady callers and a 
girl were saying adieu and coming down the 
steps. Yes, that was Ada Brant who had been 
at Bayside in the summer and at first had 
been quite friendly with her. Now she looked 
as if she l never known her. 



Maybe that was the way all the girls would 
feel to one who had been bound-out from an 
institution. There they had all been on an 
equality. And somehow the Bordens had not 
really put her down. Then that lovely Miss 
Armitage. Why, there had been a place for 
her at the table, and Jane had waited on her as 
if she had been a guest! 

Perhaps it would be different now. Then 
came a very bitter knowledge to Marilla 
Bond. Five years more of this, and wouldn’t 
people remember she had been Mrs. Borden’s 
nursemaid? Why, even now she would be 
glad to be Miss Armitage’s maid. What made 
the difference? 


i 78 A Modern Cinderella 

She was to hear more of it that evening. 
After the babies came in from their outing 
they were washed, undressed, and a nice warm 
wrapper put over their nightgown, and then 
fed. Afterward laid in their crib. They 
didn’t go to sleep at once but kicked and laugh- 
ed and chatted in a regular frolic. Phleg- 
matic babies can be easily trained. Then 
Marilla came down and waited on the table as 
Bridget sent various things up on the lift. 
She was a really charming little waitress. 

“Such an odd thing occurred today,” began 
Mrs. Borden. “John do you know a firm, 
Davis & Calthorpe, who manufacture some- 
thing — ” 

“Yes, Calthorpe is selling out, I drew up 
some papers for him. He’s been up in the 
Adirondacks all summer and is going to 
Bermuda; but he will never come back alive.” 

“How queer it all is! We met Mrs. Brant 
a few times at Bayside. They have come to 
Newton to look into the business and are 
staying with Mrs. Wheeler. They came to 
call and Mrs. Brant has a pretty, stylish young 
daughter. Of course they’ll have to move here. 
She is quite taken with Newton. I told them 


The Little Thorns 179 

about that Jamreth house down the street and 
they decided to look at it. Of course I didn’t 
get much acquainted with her, but she seems 
a very nice body.” And that’s a promising 
business, but Calthorpe had to give it up and 
I’m sorry for the poor fellow; glad, too, that he 
met with this chance of disposing of his share. 
Brant appears to be a nice, brisk fellow and it 
is lucky for Davis as well.” 

The Jamreth house had stood empty all 
summer. Marilla passed it on her way to the 
park, for Arch street led direct. Suppose Ada 
was there sitting on the stoop or at the window 
and giving her that indifferent stare when they 
had been quite acquaintances! 

For the first time fairyland and her dancing 
with the Prince failed to comfort. The whole 
world seemed changed, and how would Miss 
Armitage be, now that she was well? 

But she was very, very busy ; Jack went to 
school a week and was delighted with the 
boys. 

“Sam Gordon has a little brother just big 
enough to begin school. I wish one of the 
twins was a boy. What’s the use of so many 
girls?” 


180 A Modern Cinderella 


His father laughed a little at that. The 
second week the charm began to fail. His 
head ached and he wanted to stay at home and 
have Marilla read to him. 

“Boys don’t have headaches,” said his 
mother. But he was cross and his face flushed 
up so that in the afternoon his teacher sent 
him home. “And I don’t want this scratchy 
flannel on! I like the other better: can’t I. 
pull it off?” 

“The others are worn out, and it is coming 
cooler weather. Oh, you’ll get used to it,” 
said his mother, teasingly. 

Then he kicked the babies’ playthings: 
about and pinched Manila’s arm and wouldn’t 
eat any dinner, and said his pudding was bittern 
His father sent him to bed, but he tossed and 
tumbled and cried out for a drink ever so 
many times, and in the morning was red with a 
fever and some sort of eruption. So they 
sent for Dr. Baker, who pronounced it a fine 
case of measles. 

“I don’t see where he caught it, unless it is 
in the school, and I suppose the twins will have 
it,” said Mrs. Borden in despair. 

There were three pretty bad days and Jack 


The Little Thorns 1 8 1 


tried the patience of the whole household 
sorely. Then the babies showed symptoms 
and seemed vexed that such a thing should 
happen to them, and now school was not to be 
thought of in some time. 

“Run out and take a little airing, Marilla,” 
said Mrs. Borden, late one afternoon. “You 
haven’t been out of the house for days.” 

She was very glad to go. Jack was still a 
recluse though he seemed well. 

Which way should she go? Her heart cried 
softly for Loraine place and almost uncon- 
sciously her feet turned thitherward. Miss 
Armitage sat by the window but she sprang up 
and opened the hall door with, “My dear, 
dear child!” 

Marilla had her face in a transport of happy 
crying, from an overweighted heart. 

“Oh, my dear!” leading her in. 

“Oh, Miss Armitage, we have the measles 
round at our house. Perhaps I oughtn’t come 
in.” 

“Oh, I had the measles long ago, and I’ve 
seen three cases this afternoon. I’ve only 
been home four days and had the most splendid 
time. But I want to hear about you — have 


1 82 A Modern Cinderella 


you been well, and was it nice at the seaside? 
Why it seems like a year since we parted.” 

“Yes, I was well and the babies walk and 
talk and are real cunning and they do grow 
prettier. They're getting some real nice hair 
but I can't make it curl. I didn't like the 
house so well and there was no bath only a cold 
water faucet and a gas stove, and I missed 
Bridget so much. We staid out of doors most 
of the time. I didn't go in bathing — I was a 
little afraid, I think, and I would have had to 
go with some of the servants. There were a 
good many of them — we took our meals out- 
side. I was glad to get home, and oh, so glad 
to see you!” 

She caught the hand and kissed it raptur- 
ously. Miss Armitage held up the face with 
her hand under the chin. 

“No, you haven't gained any.” 

“I think I did at first, but Jack was so 
troublesome, and the old lady, Aunt Hetty, 
wants one to read her to sleep and sometimes 
it takes so long.” 

“You surely are not helping with her?” 

Oh, only reading and answering her bell. 
She's somehow so nice when you wait on her. 


The Little Thorns 183 

I think, like the rest of us, she’s so glad to be 
back. One day she gave me a dollar and said 
I must spend it for candy, but I haven’t yet. 
Do you think I ought to have told Mrs. 
Borden?” 

“Why, not necessarily.” 

“I’m not so very fond of candy. There’s a 
beautiful book of fairy stories in a store down 
town that I’d like. Only Jack takes every 
thing, and he keeps asking if I haven’t a penny 
when we go out. His mother doesn’t give 
him pennies to spend, and a very good thing, 
too.” 

“What kind of books do you read to the old 
lady?” 

“Well, you see it’s this way, she reads on 
pages and pages and puts in a mark, then I go 
on where she left off and so I don’t get the real 
sense of the story. They seem to have a good 
deal of trouble. I’d rather read about little 
girls who went to their grandmother’s and had 
nice times, and beautiful verses full of music 
such as you used to read.” 

Miss Armitage laughed pleasantly. “We’ll 
have some nice reading again. And you 
ought to go to school.” 


184 A Modern Cinderella 

“But you see I can’t. I look over Jack’s 
books and I write on pieces of paper. I don’t 
know how to spell all the words. Oh, I wrote a 
letter to Dr. Richards. He asked me to, and 
he sent such a nice answer. I did want to 
write again, but I hadn’t any paper nor 
postage stamp, and I didn’t like to ask the 
second time. Oh, I might buy some with my 
dollar, mightn’t I?” 

“I’ll do you up a little package. He wants 
to see you, so I’ll ask him to come here and let 
you know. And sometimes when you are out 
with the babies you must stop here and let 
me see them, and I’ll call and see you all.” 

“Oh, how nice that will be. I’m so glad you 
love me. For I never shall be like the girls 
who have pretty homes and parents to love 
them. But you’ll be the fairy godmother al- 
ways, won’t you?” 

“Yes, dear,” in a soft tone. 

“And now I must go. It’s so sweet to know 
that some one really loves you even if you are 
a bound-out girl. And now I’m beginning to 
count the years.” 

Miss Armitage kissed her and watched her 
tripping down the steps. She was worthy of a 


The Little Thorns 185 

better fate. Would she love the hand that 
set her in pleasanter places and not come to 
think wholly of self? For she, woman past 
thirty, as she was, longed for a little daughter's 
love, a daughter to grow up along side of her, 
to share her very life. 

The babies went out walking up and down 
the block one day and took no harm. Violet 
was wild to run away, as Jack had been, and 
so was quite a care. Then the men came to 
fumigate the house and they all went to a 
friend's and took lunch. 

“Dear me, what a nice little maid you have," 
said the friend. “She seems to know just 
what to do, and she's so pleasant tempered. 
Where did you find her?" 

“She came from Bethany Home and she's 
bound to me until she's eighteen. She'll be of 
good service." 

The Autumn was glorious with a good deal 
of sunshine; Jack went back to school and was 
getting to be a regular boy, full of pranks; they 
were sometimes rather rough. He did stand 
in awe of his father, but he occasionally said 
things to Marilla that were not a bit nice, then 
he would coax her not to tell of them. 


1 86 A Modern Cinderella 


One afternoon Miss Armitage came. Brid- 
get said she was sorry the ladies were out but 
the visitor said she wanted to see Marilla and 
the babies and went up stairs to the nursery. 
Playthings were all about; Marilla had been 
building houses for the twins to knock down. 
They glanced at Miss Armitage with wonder- 
ing eyes, but they said “down, down” when 
Marilla took to a chair. Then they tumbled 
over her and buried their hands in her curly 
hair, even if it pulled. They showed they 
owned her, and it really was not an easy lot for 
the little girl. She did look pale and tired but 
she was so glad to see her friend. 

Then the lady began to plan if there was any 
way to get her free. She went to see Mrs. 
Johnson. 

“Why the child seems very well off,” was 
the rather tart reply. “She is well fed and 
clothed and has nothing to do but amuse two 
little ones. Many a girl would jump at the 
place. It wouldn’t do for us to be changing 
them about, you see. We do sometimes take 
away a child who is ill treated. I’ve visited 
this Mrs. Borden several times and found 
things very satisfactory.” 


The Little Thorns 187 

“But she could be educated — ” 

“My dear lady, there are hundreds of these 
poor children who need a good home and to 
be fitted for their station in life which cannot 
be a very high one. Their heads must not be 
filled with dreams of wonderful fortunes. 
Real work is and must be the lot of those 
who are homeless and dependent. Now, if you 
wanted to adopt some child I have two lovely 
little girls here, one of them born to luxury it 
would seem, but misfortune and death made 
a waif of her. I do hope some well-to-do people 
will take a fancy to her.” 

No, she didn’t want any stranger. She 
would wait and see. Why should she care so 
much for Marilla? The faint little voice 
haunted her — “Are you a fairy godmother?” 

The Bordens were really disappointed when 
they found they had missed Miss Armitage. 
Then a dressmaker was to come, and friends 
were dropping in. Unless they shut the 
nursery door the little girls were in every- 
thing, and then they fairly howled for mama. 

“Oh, Marilla, can’t you keep those children 
entertained? It sounds as if they were getting 
murdered. Put on their things and take them 
out.” 


1 88 A Modern Cinderella 


Then one night Pansy had the croup and 
there was a great scare. 

“You’ve let her get cold some way, Ma- 
nila; you mustn’t let the wagon stand while 
you keep looking at books and pictures in 
store windows. You better go straight over 
to the park, and don’t talk to other girls. 
You’re old enough now to have a little judg- 
ment.” 

Marilla made the babies ready. They were 
very fond of walking up and down stairs. 
Now she lifted them in the carriage, tucked 
them in with the pretty robe and they did 
look picturesque in their fluffy white hoods 
and fur cloaks. They uttered shrieks of de- 
light as they went along. The Brant’s were 
moving in the Jamreth house; she would 
remember hereafter to turn off at State street 
and not pass it. Somehow she felt very tired. 
At times there was such a fluttering some- 
where inside of her that for a moment things 
went round and she had to gasp for breath. 
She would like to tell Dr. Richards about it. 
She had seen him twice, both times in the 
street and it had kept her happy for days. 


CHAPTER X 


ON THE BORDER OF TRAGEDY 

For two days Jack had been out of school 
with a sore throat. Today it was better. The 
ladies wanted to go out to match some trim- 
ming and view some elegant new party frocks 
that might do for a wedding gown. 

“Now don’t tear the house down while we 
are gone. And if you are good Jack, I’ll bring 
you home that new top you wanted. Re- 
member the noise disturbs Aunt Hetty.” 

But the children enjoyed the noise. Aunt 
Hetty’s bell rang. 

“Oh, Marilla, can’t you keep those children 
in a little better order,” said the fretful voice. 
“And get me a drink of cold tea, I feel so 
queer.” 

“I’m so sorry,” answered the child, “I’ll 
try my best. If only Jack wasn’t home.” 

Jack was throwing the ball at the babies 
who made vague efforts to catch it. 

“I’m so afraid you’ll hurt them.” 

“Oh, you old fraid cat! You can’t let a 


190 A Modern Cinderella 

fellow have any fun! I’ll give it to you.” 

It was not a heavy ball but he sent it with 
all his angry might. It struck against her 
heart and she went down in a little heap. 

“I fixed you that time! Come, you can’t 
play possum over me, get up!” 

He touched her with his foot. Pansy ran 
and fell over her. 

“Get up, you little clumsy skunk! You’ll 
half kill her!” 

“Poor Ilia. Det up, Ilia. Did bad Jack 
hurt ’ou?” 

Jack turned her partly over. Her face was 
ghastly, with the eyes rolled up. 

Aunt Hetty’s bell rang. Jack ran down 
stairs. 

“O, come up Bridget, Manila’s killed!” 

“Ah, now you want to frighten a body out 
of her wits! You ought to be skinned alive.” 

Oh, come quick!” Jack began to cry. 

Bridget walked up stairs very deliberately, 
“Oh, Holy Mother of God! Get up, children. 
Marilla, dear — Oh, what have you done to 
her?” 

She took the limp figure in her arms. 

“Oh, me darlint! Wurra! wurra! And 


On the Border of Tragedy 191 

that bell! As if no one wanted anything but 
that old body with one foot in the grave. Jack 
run in next door and ask Mrs. Seymour to 
come at once; quick, or I’ll bat you with a 
stick.’ ’ 

Then she went up stairs. The poor old 
body was lying in the reclining chair, her face 
distraught with fright. 

“Send for the doctor at once, something has 
happened to me, I can’t stir. My legs are 
heavy as lead. Where’s Marilla? I’ve rung 
and rung!” 

Manila’s fainted dead away. Yes, I’ll get 
the doctor,” and down Bridget flew to open 
the front door. 

“Oh for the love of heaven, will you come 
and talk to that thing in the wall an’ get the 
doctor! Why, I’m most crazy.” 

“Yes, what doctor?” Mrs. Seymourwentto 
the telephone. 

“Doctor Baker, and then to Miss Armitage 
in Loraine place.” 

“Dr. Baker would come at once.” 

They found the lady’s number. She was 
just going out but would stop there first. 

Then she took Mrs. Seymour through to the 


192 A Modern Cinderella 

nursery. The children were patting and pet- 
ting Marilla. 

“Get away, children, you’ve had her smoth- 
ered.” 

“Does she faint often? She seems so well 
and merry.” 

“She did that time last summer. She was 
out with the babies and fell off of a stoop, I 
believe, an’ she kept looking like a ghost for 
ever so long. That Miss Armitage took her 
to her house an’ took care of her. She’s a 
good woman, that she is. An’ it’s just my 
belief that Marilla isn’t strong enough for 
the rough an’ tumble of life. Some ain’t 
you know, an’ she’s tugged these fat babies 
about often; there isn’t but one nurse kept.” 

“Oh, they were too heavy for her to lift.” 

“Mrs. Borden didn’t want her to, much. 
I’ll say that for her. She was afraid the babies 
backs might get out of shape some way by a 
bad fall. She’s a fair dealin’ woman or I 
wouldn’t have staid with her all these years. 
But Marilla isn’t strong enough for the work, 
and the old Aunt wants a good deal of waiting 
on. It’s run up an’ down until you’d think 
her legs would just fall out. 


On the Border of Tragedy 193 

Mrs. Seymour had been trying various 
restoratives. Now Marilla gave a long shud- 
dering sigh, opened her eyes but closed them 
again. 

“What beautiful long lashes she has! And 
such silky hair — ” 

“Oh, the saints be praised! I began to 
think she was dead! Poor darlint! ’Rilla 
dear — its Bridget who’d do anything in the 
world for you.” 

Dr. Baker arrived. He entered the room, 
looked at Marilla, felt of her pulse, and listened 
to the faint heart beats. “Give her a little 
brandy,” he said. “Where’s Mrs. Borden? 
1 thought the old lady — ” 

“Oh, she is!” interrupted Bridget, “she can’t 
stir her legs one bit. She’s rale poorly, now I 
tell you, an’ this child’s been looking after her 
as well as the babies.” 

“That’s twice too much.” He ran lightly 
up the stairs to meet with a torrent of up- 
braidings. 

“I thought I’d have to die here all alone! 
Where’s Marilla? I’ve rung and rung.” 

“The girl has been in a dead faint. She’s 
worn out. And you must have a regular 
nurse.” 


194 A Modern Cinderella 

“Oh, dear!” Aunt Hetty began to cry, 
“couldn’t I have her? ’Twouldn’t be as bad as 
them two young ones. And I’d pay her well, 
too. She’s so nice and good tempered with 
her face full of smiles and sunshine. Oh, if 
she’s going to be ill what shall we all do?” 

The brandy revived Marilla a little. She 
tried to speak but her lips felt stiff. They took 
her up carefully and laid her on the old lounge. 
The babies started to climb up over her at 
once, and howled fearfully when Bridget 
pulled them down with an ungentle shake and 
sat them on the floor. Then she went to 
answer the door bell and ushered in Miss 
Armitage. 

Dr. Baker came down at the same moment. 
“Can’t you shut those children up in some 
dungeon? They’ve voices like a foghorn. 
Ah, Miss Armitage. How is this patient?” 

“Oh, I’m — better,” raising up suddenly then 
falling back in a half faint. 

“Don’t stir, keep as still as you can. You’ve 
no strength to throw away on make believes. 
See here, babies,” and he disgorged a paper of 
peppermints that at once soothed broken 
hearts. 


On the Border of Tragedy 195 

“When will Mrs. Borden return?” 

“Well, she’ll be home to dinner,” and Brid- 
get grinned. “Things were all well enough 
when she went out. You see there’s some 
weddin’ fixings goin’ on, and sure Miss Borden 
deserves a good husband when she’s waited 
five years. How’s the old lady?” 

“It’s pretty bad with her, though there’s 
no immediate signs of her dying. But it’s 
paralysis. Her limbs are cold and useless and 
I think it is creeping up her left side. She’ll 
be another baby added to the family, unless 
she will go to a hospital which would be far 
better for her. She must have a steady nurse. 
I’ve been rather afraid of this.” 

“I must go and see to my dinner. Miss Ar- 
mitage won’t you stay until the ladies come 
home?” 

Miss Armitage signified her willingness and 
laid aside her hat. 

The babies were fairly gorging themselves. 

“I’ll be in again presently. I’ll leave this 
for the child, to be given every half hour and 
she is to lie perfectly still.” 

Miss Armitage smiled down in the pallid 
face. It had grown quite thin again, but it 


196 A Modern Cinderella 

seemed to hold an ethical sweetness. Marilla 
put out one slim hand. 

“It seems too bad the old lady should be 
taken ill at this juncture/’ said Mrs. Seymour. 
“And Manila’s been such a faithful child. 
She’s been growing tall this summer and au- 
tumn and I suppose has run ahead of her 
strength. Then with the two children to look 
after — well a little nurse girl has rather hard 
lines — they seldom have more than one, or if 
they do the others are older. My two boys 
are in boarding school. I’ve wished one was a 
girl, they are so much more company for the 
mother. But I’d wanted her to be pretty,” 
she cast a sidelong glance at the twins. “It’s 
a pity Jack should have taken all the beauty.” 

The twins felt so comfortable over the candy 
that they went to playing with their blocks. 
Miss Armitage gave her patient the second 
dose of her medicine and she closed her eyes. 

There was almost a shriek as Bridget opened 
the hall door with — “the merciful saints 
preserve us! Has Jack been run over by one 
of them fury things?” 

Jack was crying and the blood was stream- 
ing from his nose all over his blouse. 


On the Border of Tragedy 197 

“He’s been fighting, the bad boy, with a 
nasty, dirty tramp !” 

Bridget in her inmost heart hoped he had 
the worst of it. “Whist!” she exclaimed, 
“there’s two sick folks in the house, the doc- 
tor’s been an’ he’s coming again!” 

“Sick! Oh, what has happened?” 

“Well, the old lady’s had a stroke, an’ 
Marilla had a bad faint again. 1 thought sure 
she was dead.” 

Mrs. Borden dropped into the hall chair and 
began to cry hysterically. 

“Jack, go straight up to the bath room” said 
his aunt. 

“And the neighbors came in, Mrs. Seymour 
to talk through that funnel, and then Miss 
Armitage and the doctor,” went on Bridget. 

“It’s a pity one can’t stir out of the house 
without something happening,” sobbed the 
mistress. “And we’re both so tired.” 

“There dear, come up stairs.” Florence 
took Mrs. Borden by the arm, and they as- 
cended together. Now I’ll go and look after 
Jack.” 

She put a big apron over her dress. Jack 
sat on the bath room floor crying. 


198 A Modern Cinderella 

“Get up and take off those dirty things. 
Come, your father will soon be home and I 
don’t know what he’ll do to you,” said his 
aunt. 

“He may strap me if he likes, but I ain’t 
going to be called a snotnosed scabby sneak of 
a devil — ” 

“Hush! hush! I won’t listen to such a 
talk—” 

“ — And he slapped me in the face, and I 
kicked his shins good, and then we fit and I 
give him a punch in the belly and a good 
bunk in the eye — ” 

“Stop Jack, I won’t hear another word. 
Let me get you washed up. There comes your 
father.” 

Jack’s nose had stopped bleeding and he was 
washed and put in some clean clothes. Mrs. 
Borden laid aside her wrap and hat and went 
through to the nursery. The peppermint must 
have been a sedative to nerves and stomach 
for the twins looked up with an angelic smile 
and went on house building. Mrs. Seymour 
made the explanations. 

“What could Marilla have been doing? 
She was well enough when we went out.” 


On the Border of Tragedy 199 

Miss Armitage gave the hand she held a 
gentle squeeze and she saw the eyelids quiver. 

“I’m sure I am very much obliged to you 
both. I was sorry to miss you that day you 
called, Miss Armitage. Oh dear, how you 
must have been frightened! And poor Aunt 
Hetty! Is it really true — ” 

“The doctor couldn’t tell the absolute 
danger so soon — ” 

“Oh, I think it has been coming on some 
time. She’s dragged her feet and she had a 
quick, almost spiteful way of walking, if one 
may call it that. She protested against 
people slouching round without animation 
enough to lift their feet. And some days she 
wouldn’t come down to any meal. Well, 
she’s a pretty old lady; we’ve always let her 
have her way.” 

Jack came into the room rather meek but 
a handsome little fellow in spite of a lump on 
his forehead. He had run out of doors without 
waiting to hear the result of Manila’s fall. 

“Well, Captain!” said his father, holding out 
his hand. 

Mrs. Seymour went home after proffering 
her services if she should be needed through 


200 A Modern Cinderella 


the night. The dinner bell rang and Miss 
Borden insisted the guest must go down to 
dinner and she would stay with the children. 

“We’re having our dinner a little late this 
evening on account of a guest; otherwise I 
would accept. I can stay half an hour longer. 
Then if you won’t mind my coming around 
about nine to hear the doctor’s verdict.” 

“Oh, you are very sympathetic. Thank 
you. I only hope Marilla won’t have a bad 
time as she did last summer. Why she’s 
never fainted since.” 

Jack behaved beautifully at the table. No 
one spoke of the fight. But he kept up a 
shivery thought of wondering if the ball he had 
thrown at Marilla had really hurt her. It 
wasn’t a hard ball, at least not as hard as they 
had sometimes in the street. 

No one appeared very hungry. Mrs. Bor- 
den went up to look after Aunt Hetty who 
seemed disinclined to talk and only wanted a 
cup of tea. Mr. Borden looked at Marilla 
who had fallen asleep. Then he went through 
to the other room and took Jack on his knee. 

“Now let’s hear about the fight,” he said, 
but his voice didn’t seem very stem. 


On the Border of Tragedy 201 

Jack really wanted to cry. He felt sort of 
bruised and beaten though he had knocked 
down his adversary and would have stamped 
on him if his mother had not appeared at that 
moment and carried him off. 

“Well, you see” — and the boy winked very 
hard. 

“Who begun it?” 

“Why, that Patsy’s a reg’lar bum! He’s 
called me names — he plays hookey too, and 
he tried to trip me up and 1 give him a left- 
hander, and he called me a stinking pup and 
ever so many nasty names and then we went 
at it. Papa, you may strap me if you want 
to, but if I hadn’t fit the boys would have 
made fun of me and called me sissy, and we 
went at it like fury. He made my nose bleed, 
and I guess I gave him a black eye; and I 
kicked his shins — he’s got fat legs. He’s just 
a bounder and teacher said he’d wind up in 
the reform school. I just wish he would!” with 
an angry zest. 

“How do boys learn such shocking talk?” 
asked Aunt Florence, “When they never hear 
it at home, and as for fighting — ” 

“It is in the outside air and perhaps like 


202 A Modern Cinderella 


measles runs through boyhood. Jack, I want 
you to stand up for yourself though I don’t 
admire street fights.” 

“But I won’t be called nasty names, and he 
said I was a sneak of a devil — ” 

“Try and keep out of the way of such boys. 
But if you must fight stand up to it boldly. 
I think you didn’t get the worst of it, but I 
guess it’s good your mother came along just 
then, and now little boy you had better go to 
bed.” 

Jack was very glad nothing had been asked 
him about Marilla. He was tired and drowsy. 
But Aunt Florence said, “Jack I think you 
were a very bad boy.” 

Dr. Baker came in and took another look at 
Marilla whose pulse was still very fluttering. 

“What do you suppose it is?” asked Mrs. 
Borden, anxiously. 

“The child has a weak heart. Perhaps no 
organic disease at present, and if she gets 
through the next two or three years safely all 
may go well with her. But she ought not 
have any severe strain. Do you know any- 
thing about her family?” 

“She hasn’t any, I took her from that 


On the Border of Tragedy 203 

Bethany Home. She’s a nice, willing, pleas- 
ant girl and a splendid hand with babies. But 
she was with Miss Armitage all through that 
awful time we had with the children teething, 
and the babies are good. I resolved I’d never 
make children so troublesome as Jack was, 
waiting on them hand and foot. I’ve had a 
different system with them.” 

“The system seems to have worked well, 
but I think you need a stronger nursemaid.” 

“I’ve never let her lift them, I knew it was 
not safe for them,” laughing. Though think 
how poor children carry babies about; but now 
tell me about Aunt Hetty.” 

“I think it is the beginning of the end. You 
can’t quite tell, but she’s pretty well worn out 
with the years, and she must have a steady 
nurse. A hospital would be best.” 

“Yes, we will talk that over.” 

“Have you any one for tonight?” 

“No. Is it as bad as that?” and Mrs. Bor- 
den turned pale. 

“I should advise an emergency nurse for a 
week or so; by that time you can make some 
plans.” 


204 A Modern Cinderella 

Mrs. Vanderveer was comfortable, bat she 
did not want to be left alone. 

“Oh, isn't it dreadful, Florence, that this 
should happen just now. If it only could have 
waited until Christmas," Mrs. Borden said 
with tears in her eyes. I meant you should 
have such a happy wedding. You've always 
been like an own sister to me." 

“Well, we won't worry tonight. Only — " 

Miss Armitage came in and heard the story 
through. 

“Let me telephone at once to the nurses' 
home, then you will feel relieved. And per- 
haps it would be a good thing to send Marilla 
to me for a little while again." 

“I cannot do without a nurse girl." 

“But a week or two may restore Marilla." 

The nurse came, a wholesome middle aged 
body who had been for weeks with a helpless 
paralytic. And so the midnight found them 
all comfortable. Marilla was left on the 
lounge. Miss Armitage sat a long while in her 
soft wrapper planning about the child she felt 
she must rescue. Oh, she did want her. She 
did not try to give any reason for the love that 
had stolen almost unaware in her heart, or the 


On the Border of Tragedy 205 

faith that this child would not disappoint her. 
Every year she was growing older, every year 
she longed more for some one of her very own. 
Why should she not play fairy godmother in 
earnest? She must have Dr. Richard's ver- 
dict. 

For Mrs. Borden with many kindly qualities 
looked at matters only as they applied to 
herself. When Marilla was eighteen she would 
come to the freedom of a bound-out girl, too 
old to begin another life, settled in a rut — if she 
lived. Was she not one of the little ones that 
might be rescued and live out a higher life? 
There were many who could not, but she felt 
she must go carefully. 

Mrs. Holmes proved an admirable nurse and 
Aunt Hetty took to her in an astonishing man- 
ner. She was attractive to the children, as well, 
who greeted her with a smile. 

On the next day Dr. Baker admitted the 
paralysis was gaining rapidly and thought she 
could not last long. That evening she said to 
the nurse, “Send Mr. Borden up here, and you 
stay down with the ladies." 

He came up and greeted her cordially, hop- 
ing for better things, as friends are wont to 
say. 


2 o 6 A Modern Cinderella 


“No, John, there will not be anybetter, so 
we won’t indulge in make believes. Carry and 
James were quite sure this way of living wasn’t 
good for me. They wanted me to buy a house 
and make it over to them and they would care 
for me the rest of my life. I’ve lived with 
Carry, paid her good board, too, sol knew what 
that would be. I couldn’t live quite alone, 
you see — I always wanted some one round that 
I could see if I wanted to. Old people do get 
queer. So when I had to forclose here I made 
you this offer. You’re the only one of them 
all who has not asked me outright for money, 
and I honor you for it. Your mortgage here is 
twenty-three hundred.” 

“Yes,” he said with a vague sort of hope that 
she wasn’t going to ask him to settle it. 

“I want you to get it cancelled; I’ll give you 
the order. I’ve meant to do this the last 
year. Carry worried so at me that I went 
away with her and felt none the better for it. 
I’d rather staid at home with Bridget. So you 
see to that at once. And I want to make a 
new will.” 

“Aunt Hetty! Well, I don’t know what to 
say,” and his tone showed his surprise. “Don’t 


On the Border of Tragedy 207 

say anything.” She gave her little cackle of a 
laugh that always had a sound of derision in 
it. “You know I can’t take any of it with me, 
and I’d like to know it will make few people 
pleased and happy. I’m going to make you 
executor, so get some one else to write out the 
will. I fixed it to my liking today. You’ve 
all been very good to put up with my whims an 
and queernesses. Old people don’t like too 
much advice, especially where money is con- 
cerned. Look in the second drawer there — 
in a long envelope.” 

“Thank you for this expression of your sat- 
isfaction. The babies and Jack may have 
been a nuisance at times.” 

“But that little girl’s been good enough to 
make up for any annoyance — not that there’s 
been much. Jack’s a smart, funny little fel- 
low. You know they’re all more or less bad, 
but they grow up pretty fair. There now, I’m 
tired.” 

Mr. Borden wished her a kindly good-night 
and went down stairs to recount the wonderful 
interview. 

“Oh, John!” Mrs. Borden leaned her head 
down on her husband’s shoulder. What a 


2 o 8 A Modern Cinderella 


streak of good fortune! Now we really do 
own the house free and clear, I thought our 
summering would be quite moderate but it 
wasn’t. Still it did the babies an immense deal 
of good after they got over their awful time. 
And they’re so nice and well now, and are 
growing better looking all the time. If Ma- 
nila only could make their hair curl! It’s so 
stringy, and we haven’t worried at Aunt 
Hetty for what she did or what she didn’t do, 
and weren’t snappy when she found fault. I 
used to think she needn’t have rung for Ma- 
nila quite so much, but the child never minded 
running up and down.” 

“How has she been today?” 

“Well, I don’t just know; Dr. Baker said 
she must keep pretty still, so she’s laid on the 
old lounge, but the babies would crawl over 
her. It does seem as if we must have someone 
else — an older person, though some of them 
object to taking out children. But if we want 
to get much sewing done — ” 

“I think I’ll have a seamstress for a week or 
so,” said Aunt Florence, “time goes on so 
fast.” 

Marilla had gone up stairs to her own bed, 


On the Border of Tragedy 209 

where Bridget had crooned over her in tender 
Irish fashion. 

“An’ I’m sore afraid them babies ’ll be the 
death of you, poor lamb! They drag on you 
so, and their chatter would drive me crazy.” 

“But they’re so funny.” 

“I don’t call it funny with their hundred and 
fifty wants,” sniffed Bridget. 

Marilla turned faint now and then but for 
several days she was not sent out with the 
children. Miss Armitage came over every day 
to inquire about both invalids. Mrs. Vander- 
veer dozed a good deal and the numbness 
seemed crawling further up her body. 

“She may have another stroke and she may 
go just this way,” said Mrs. Holmes, “I 
wouldn’t give her more than a month at the 
longest. I’ve seen it so many times. But it 
is merciful for them not to last years.” 

It was mid-October then. The seamstress 
proved a treasure. Garments were completed 
and laid away. 

“1 want most of the work finished up in 
November,” said Mrs. Borden, “then we can 
plan all the other matters.” 

“I shall have to look up some one else. I 


2io A Modern Cinderella 


want a nurse to take up the children in the 
morning and wash and dress them, and they 
must go out. They’re losing all their lovely 
weather. Marilla doesn’t seem to get along 
at all. If she’s going to develop some heart 
trouble she will just be good for nothing. Of 
course, when I took her she seemed healthy 
enough, and it was the best thing to do then. 
John has had some good luck this fall and we 
don’t need to think of saving up money for the 
mortgage. I could afford a regular nurse, and 
it would ease me up so much. I don’t sup- 
pose they’d take Marilla back at the Home.” 

“Talk to John about it if; we could find a 
new place for her. Why, she would make a 
nice little waitress. If you could keep three 
girls,” laughingly. 

“Dear me, we must not spread out too rap- 
idly, and somehow I’d hate to give her up. 
She trains the children so nicely. And have 
you noticed how sort of gentlemanly Jack is 
growing toward her? He was real rude.” 

Jack had experienced many qualms of con- 
science about throwing the ball that day, but 
Marilla made no reference to it. Still she 
might tell Bridget, she and Bridget were such 


2 I I 


On the Border of Tragedy 

cronies, and Bridget would make an awful 
fuss.” 

“Marilla,” he said one night when she was 
getting him ready for bed — “I didn’t mean to 
hurt you that day with the ball — you know. 
I didn’t think girls were so tender.” 

“I was tired and there had been something 
stopping my breath like, now and then, maybe 
it wasn’t the ball.” 

“You were good not to tell on a fellow. I’ll 
never, never hurt you again, nor pinch you, 
nor be ugly to you. You’re so sweet, Ma- 
nila,” and he clasped his arms around her 
neck, kissing her. 


CHAPTER XI 


THE ARK OF LOVE 

The glowing golden October weather had 
given place to several lowering days. Fur- 
naces and grates were started up, and over- 
coats brought out, and pedestrians hurried 
along. Even children did not stop to play, for 
now a cold drizzle had set in. 

It was very warm and cheery in Miss Ar- 
mitage’s library. There was a fire in the grate, 
a pot of beautiful red carnations on one stand, 
a great vase of roses on the other, and a 
dainty tea table set out with Wedgewood. 
Thursday afternoon she was always at home. 
From some cause there had been very few in. 
Jane came and put two big lumps of cannel 
coal on the fire and said a few words, then went 
to answer the ring at the door; it was Dr. 
Richards. 

“Fm glad to see you,” she said. “Will you 
please light a burner or two?” 

“Oh, no, let us sit in this mysterious light 
and watch the blaze leaping over and around 


The Ark of Love 


213 

those black hillocks. Have you been busy to- 
day?” 

“Not very. Some days I don’t feel in a 
working humor. I had only two calls this 
afternoon. Will you have a cup of tea?” 

“Yes; when have you been to the Bordens?” 

“Yesterday.” 

“And how are the invalids?” 

“Mrs. Vanderveer is sinking in a comatose 
state ; she doesn’t suffer, which is a great bless- 
ing toward the last. As for Marilla — she made 
a pause. 

“Well — ” inquiringly. 

“I’m not satisfied, she has such a blue, tired 
look. But she is about as usual. Dr. Richards, 
I want her.” 

Something in the tone touched him. It 
seemed the cry of motherhood. 

“Well, wouldn’t they give her up?” 

“I really think they would; a friend came to 
see if they did not want her nursemaid, a nice 
well trained girl of twenty; an excellent seam- 
stress. She is going to California. Mrs. 
Borden told me this as we were down in the 
hall. Dr. Baker said something about the 
child’s health that rather startled her. But 


214 A Modern Cinderella 

before we could have any discussion another 
visitor called. She thinks Marilla doesn’t 
have anything much to do; but the babies are 
a constant care. They want to be entertained 
every minute of the time. Violet is develop- 
ing quite a temper and slaps her little nurse. 
All her mother said was ‘Violet, that’s naughty.’ 
But you should have seen Pansy speak some 
Mother Goose rhymes. Marilla had been 
training her. The gestures, the roll of the 
eyes, the coquettish turn of the head was the 
daintiest thing you ever saw. Then she re- 
peated — ‘Where are you going, my pretty 
maid?’ and she had a little milk pail on her 
arm, and she managed to keep the two parts 
wonderfully distinct — it was remarkable in a 
child not three years old, and when she said 
— ‘Then I won’t marry you, my pretty maid’ 
and answered so pertly — ‘Nobody asked you, 
sir, she said,’ it would have done credit to an 
exhibition. Her mother sprang up and kissed 
her rapturously, crying — ‘Isn’t she the dearest 
and sweetest thing and the smartest! Think 
of her learning that and acting it off so com- 
pletely, and not three years old! She is 
smarter than Violet’ — and then Violet set up 


The Ark of Love 


215 


such a howl! Her mother pacified her by 
saying Marilla should tell her a piece, and after 
several efforts Cinderella did induce her to say 
by a great deal of prompting 'Milkman, Milk- 
man, where have you been?’ Think of the 
wear on the child’s nerves, and she looked so 
tired. I really couldn’t stand it a moment 
longer. They think she has nothing to do 
but just amuse those two strong irrepressible 
children who climb over her and torment her 
in every fashion. I can’t stand it. I hardly 
slept last night thinking of it.” 

"Can’t you bring her over for a visit?” 

"I thought of proposing that. If I could per- 
suade her to transfer the child to me — ” 

"But if she gets another nurse?” 

"Yes, I must try. The strain on her is too 
great, and now for almost a week she has not 
been out of the house; Mrs. Borden bewails 
it for the childrens’ sake. She thinks only of 
them with a mother’s selfishness, and she 
doesn’t give Marilla credit for these pretty 
ways or their intelligence. She is just theirnurse 
girl. It is a cruel waste of the child’s gifts.” 

"I’d like to see Dr. Baker; most of all I’d 
like to see Marilla, but it wouldn’t be etiquette 
to call.” 


216 A Modern Cinderella 


“FlI go tomorrow with courage enough to 
have a gentle talk or a straight out one,” said 
Miss Armitage resolutely. “We try to save 
other lives, why not this one? And this one is 
dear to me. It has so much of promise in it, 
and life gets lonely sometimes.” 

He longed to come into it, but he kept his 
promise. Until she made some sign he must 
be content with friendship. He rose abruptly 
and said he must be going. She did not de- 
tain him. 

It was raining a-softly now and he hurried 
along. His office was in a little ell part in a 
rather inviting looking house, and he took his 
meals with the tenant. The office boy was on 
the lookout for him, it was time he went 
home. 

“There’s a gentleman in there waiting for 
you,” he said with his good-night. 

The gentleman was comfortably ensconced 
in the Morris chair, smoking a cigar. Doctor 
Richards took a second look. 

“Why, Lorimer!” he exclaimed. “Where 
have you dropped from? I haven’t seen you 
in an age — but I’m glad, old fellow; Iwasfeel- 
ing rather down; I should have had a gay 
presentiment.” 


The Ark of Love 217 

“Remembering old times when we were 
both bloated aristocrats, favorites with the 
gods.” 

“And are now earning daily bread,” laughed 
the doctor. “At least I am and trying to help 
suffering humanity. Isn’t that neatly put?” 

“I don’t know whether I can claim all that; 
now and then I get some poor fellow’s affairs 
out of a snarl and make him pay for it, and one 
end of something has drifted here to Newton 
and I’m after that, but I thought I’d hunt you 
up first. I’ve been here a good half hour.” 

“And supper is ready in the house. Then- 
we will have a good hour before any one drops 
in. Come in,” and he opened a side door into 
a hall. 

There were three persons at the table, an 
elderly couple and a woman in the thirties. 
They made Mr. Lorimer cordially welcome 
and the supper was inviting. The guest 
asked some questions about Newton which 
was a quiet rather old fashioned town quite 
set in its ways. 

Afterward they settled themselves com- 
fortably in the office. 

“I’ve come to hunt up some one — do you 


218 A Modem Cinderella 


know anything about a Bethany Home for 
orphans, girls, I believe.” 

Dr. Richards roused from his lazy position. 
Yes, I know about it, though I never been 
on the staff. Why?” 

“I want to learn about a child placed there 
four or five years ago. Let me see,” referring 
to a memorandum, “name, Marilla Bond; 
mother and father died in this town.” 

“Marilla Bond. Yes. I know the child. 
What of her?” 

“I’ll begin at the very first. Hardly two 
years ago Peter Schermerhorn died at the age 
of ninety-eight. He was the black sheep of an 
otherwise respectable family, went off and 
spent his portion in riotous living, afterward 
bought a tract of ground above Harlem, turned 
hermit, raised geese and ducks and pigs, 
married and had three daughters and they in 
turn married, glad, I suppose, to get away from 
the penurious living. So it went on. He had 
to give up the pigs and geese, did a little gar- 
dening and two years ago died without a will. 
Oddly enough he had kept a family record 
which has been of great service to us. The old 
shanty was a disgrace, the ground valuable. 


The Ark of Love 


219 


The city was bringing up one of its fine 
avenues and a syndicate made a proffer for the 
land. Of course the heirs soon scented this 
out, and our firm has been trying to settle 
the estate so the property can be turned into 
money, and a good deed given. We have 
found about everybody, I believe, but the 
mother of this child who is in very direct 
descent, eluded us a long while. ” 

“And this child is one of the heirs?” in sur- 
prise. 

“Exactly. Her mother came here after her 
marriage. The father was killed in some 
machinery mishap. The mother was in a 
store, a bakery, I believe, and dying, gave her 
little girl to the friend she had lived with, 
and the friend married and went out to Easton. 
We found she did not take the child with her 
but put her in this Bethany Home with some 
important papers. So we want the child and 
the papers.” 

“The child was twelve, a year ago Septem- 
ber. She was bound-out to some fairly nice 
people as a little nursemaid. And an heiress !” 
in a tone of glad surprise. 

“Well not to any great extent. There are a 


220 A Modern Cinderella 


good many heirs it seems — ten thousand or so. 
But we had to know whether she was living 
or not on account of the title. ” 

His little Cinderella! Truly this was a 
fairy story. “Oh, are you quite sure?” he 
said. 

“Oh, there’s no doubt, if she is the true heir. 
But the woman at Easton attested a very 
straight story and knew of the husband’s 
death, though she had not known him per- 
sonally. The money is on the mother’s side, 
you see, so his death is neither here nor there. 
And now — can’t we go out and interview this 
place and the keeper?” 

“Hardly tonight. The matron is a rather 
rigid person I believe. We had best tackle her 
by daylight, and the child is almost in this 
vicinity. A rather unusual child I think, very 
sweet natured. Oh, I can’t express all my 
delight. She is the kind of girl that ought to 
be educated, that should live in an atmosphere 
of love, and she is not really strong enough to 
take the rough and tumble of life. Oh, 1 can’t 
tell you how glad I am. Lorimer surveyed his 
friend with a rather humorous smile. They 
had been chums during a summer in Switzer- 


The Ark of Love 


22 1 


land and Holland, but he had not thought 
Richards much given to either love or romance. 

Then they branched off into old times when 
both had been rather wasteful. Lorimerwas 
working hard to redeem that youthful ex- 
travagance; Dr. Richards cared nothing at all 
for the moneyed end of life. 

He would fain have kept his friend all night 
but Lorimer had engaged his room at a hotel. 
They were to meet as soon as possible in the 
morning. 

Bethany Home was quite in the suburbs, 
reached by a walk after one had left the 
trolley. The house was a big rambling place 
to which there had been made several addi- 
tions. It had been a gift from a benevolently 
disposed woman, with a small endowment 
that was occasionally added to. There was 
quite a spacious garden and an abundance of 
rose vines. 

Yes, Mrs. Johnson was in and they were 
ushered into a large old fashioned apartment, 
scrupuously neat and formal. Mrs. Johnson 
was a somewhat portly woman turned of 
sixty, whose face had settled into severe lines, 
and she eyed her visitors rather suspiciously. 


222 A Modern Cinderella 


“I am Dr. Richards,” he began with a 
softening of the countenance, “and my friend 
Mr. Lorimer is a lawyer from New York who 
comes on a matter of business concerning a 
little girl who was an inmate of the Home until 
a little over a year ago — Marilla Bond.” 

“Yes” — in a rather questioning manner. 

Lorimer told his story and the surprise in 
the woman’s face was evident. 

“What is of most importance is to learn 
whether there are any papers to substantiate 
the claim. One has to be careful in the legal 
matters.” 

She seemed to consider. “Yes,” rather 
reluctantly. “The person who brought her 
here gave quite a box of papers and some 
trinkets to my safe keeping. W T e take charge 
of them until the girls are eighteen — then they 
have served out their time and are legally their 
own mistresses. Ours is quite a private in- 
stitution and has no connection with the city, 
although it has a board of officers, of which I 
am president. Of course I keep watch over 
the girls who are bound-out. This Marilla 
has a very nice place. She was away all sum- 
mer with the family. One of our managers 


The Ark of Love 


223 


visited this Mrs. Borden on her return and 
found everything satisfactory and the child 
content.” 

“Could we look over the papers?” 

She seemed rather loth to produce them but 
she could find no excuse. She recalled the 
fact that she had seen Dr. Richards’ name in 
connection with the Children’s Hospital. 

Certainly there was enough to substantiate 
the claim. A marriage certificate, an attes- 
tation of the baby’s birth, and old Dr. Lang- 
don was still alive, though he had retired from 
practice. A packet of letters as well, two 
notices of Mr. Bond’s accident and death. 
Everything was ready for corroboration. 

Mr. Lorimer gathered up the important 
papers. At first Mrs. Johnson rather de- 
murred about his taking them away. 

“Why, I would have no object in destroying 
them. I should not be the gainer by it. And 
this is the last heir we have to trace. Now we 
can proceed to a settlement. The syndicate 
takes more than hah the property and pays 
cash. The remainder can be easily sold. No 
one seems disposed to demand an extravagant 
price. You will hear from me before long, and 
I will return the papers.” 


224 A Modern Cinderella 

After they had settled that and left the lady, 
Lorimer said — 

“Now let us interview this Doctor Langdon. ” 

He was a somewhat feeble, white haired old 
man but received them very graciously and 
was much interested in the story. Turning 
to his book he refreshed his memory. Yes, 
there was the birth of the child. The mother 
he put down as rather delicate. A note some 
time after substantiated the accident and 
death of the father. He was very willing to 
give an affidavit. “You've been a tremendous 
help to me, Al,” said Mr. Lorimer, “estates 
that have to be settled this way are an enor- 
mous bother, and thanks are poor pay,” 
laughing. 

“I believe I shall demand something more. 
The child will need a guardian. She has 
several warm friends here, I'm not willing to 
lose sight of her. So I shall ask that office.” 

“Well — why not? Some one must act until 
she is of age. Yes, I'll remember. I'm glad 
you spoke of it. I'll be up again. Indeed 
I'm quite curious to see how she takes her for- 
tune.” 

So the friends parted. Dr. Richards made 


The Ark of Love 


225 


several calls, stopped for some lunch, found a 
number of patients awaiting him and a mes- 
sage that had come from Miss Armitage, who 
wished to see him at once. She had had quite 
an eventful morning as well. Some vague 
presentiment had haunted her about Marilla 
and after disposing of a few business calls she 
hurried around to Arch street. 

Mrs. Borden answered the door. 

“Oh, Miss Armitage! We’re so full of 
trouble! Aunt Hetty has just died and 
Marilla — oh, I don’t know what will become of 
the child!” 

“She is not ill?” in a tone of anxiety. 

“Well, come in and sit down and let me tell 
you. They thought the first part of the night 
the poor old lady was dropping off quietly. 
Then toward morning she seemed to rally, and 
kept calling for Marilla. John had been up 
there most of the time and he said bring the 
child up. We didn’t suppose she was really 
conscious. So Marilla went up. It was day- 
light, and just as soon as she went to the bed- 
side the poor old lady held out both hands, and 
Mrs. Holmes said she really smiled, and then 
a horrible thing happened, like a fit, and her 


226 A Modern Cinderella 


mouth all curled up and her eyes rolled up to 
the whites and Marilla screamed and fainted 
and the old lady was dead in a minute, and 
then the child fainted several times and they 
put her in her own bed — we’d had her down 
stairs. What did your doctor say about her 
last summer? Dr. Baker said her heart was 
weak. Now I think they oughtn’t have sent 
a girl out from the Home who had any such 
thing the matter with her. She had it real 
easy, sitting on the floor playing with the 
babies. And we never let her carry them up 
and down stairs or put anything hard on her, 
and now you know they run all over and are 
very little trouble. They have always been 
such good babies, but if she is going to faint 
at every little thing she won’t be much good. 
Mr. Borden has gone for that other girl and 
to attend to the necessary business. There 
will be the funeral and we shall have to take in 
some of the folks, I know. Mrs. Holmes will 
stay right along until we are straight again, 
but, it’s asking a good deal I admit” and she 
paused. 

“Yes, let me take her.” Miss Armitage had 


The Ark of Love 


227 

come primed with several arguments, but she 
saw they would not be needed. 

“Of course the shock was awful. Mrs. 
Holmes said she wasn’t surprised, for Marilla 
was just going to clasp the outstretched hands, 
but the old lady came back to her natural 
looks and I’m so glad; but of course Marilla 
will be haunted by the sight — ” 

“Yes, and you will have so much on your 
hands. Do you think she could walk that far 
or shall I order a hack?” 

“Oh, she came down to the nursery and 
Bridget brought her up some breakfast. 
There’s the undertaker — ” 

“I’ll go up to the nursery,” said Miss Ar- 
mitage. 

A very wan little girl was pillowed upon the 
lounge. Jack had been sent to school without 
hearing of the happening. Violet was march- 
ing up and down ringing a little bell and saying 
“Go to door, Ilia, go to door.” Pansy was 
leaning over her with a book crying authori- 
tatively — “Read to me, read to me.” 

Miss Armitage lifted Pansy down but she 
started to climb up again. The lady sat down 


228 A Modern Cinderella 


in the place and drew Manila’s head to her 
bosom and let the child cry there. 

“Ilia can’t read to you now,” she said. 
“Poor Ilia’s sick.” 

“Tain’t your Ilia,” said the child obsti- 
nately. 

“My dear,” Miss Armitage began soothing- 
ly, kissing the tremulous lips, “you are going 
home with me. It has been dreadful I know, 
but you must try to forget it. Jane will be 
glad to have you and Dr. Richards will com- 
fort you. Don’t you remember what a nice 
time we had last summer? There dear — little 
Cinderella.” 

Marilla smiled faintly through her tears. 

“Oh, I am so glad. It was so sudden you 
know, and when she stretched out her hands.” 

“She must have known you, and after all it 
was sweet to be remembered then. Are you 
very weak? But I’m afraid you couldn’t 
walk to Loraine place.” 

“I’m so — so shaky — ” 

Aunt Florence entered the room and snatched 
the bell from Violet. “You must not make 
such a noise,” she declared. “Oh Miss Armi- 
tage, you are always shocked by a death, 


The Ark of Love 229 

aren’t you? And poor Aunt Hetty has been 
dying the last week, though the doctor said 
she did not really suffer. But she’s past 
eighty and that’s a good long life. I do won- 
der if she really knew she was calling for Ma- 
nila, and the poor child has had a bad time. 
How good of you to offer to take her for awhile. 
Funerals are so dismal to a child.” 

“I think I had better have a cab,” said the 
guest. “Will you kindly telephone for one?” 

Miss Borden assented. Then she brought 
a frock for Marilla, and between them they 
had her dressed. Violet tumbled her box of 
blocks on the floor and began kicking them 
around. 

“Oh, dear! When you want quiet, children 
are always the worst! When that new girl 
comes she shall take them out in their carriage 
and we will have peace for a little while.” 

Mr. Borden entered at that moment with 
a very pleasant-faced young woman. 

“Come through in my room,” said Miss 
Borden, “and you can watch for the cab.” 
She shut the door between, but the babies 
burst into a howl and she went back to pacify 
them. 


230 A Modern Cinderella 

“Oh, I do feel better,” exclaimed Marilla, 
and her eyes lightened up, “but no one seems 
to know just what to do to amuse the babies, 
I’ve grown so used to it.” 

“They must get along without you for 
awhile. It is a pity they couldn’t be sent 
away as well.” 

The cab came presently. Mr. Borden al- 
most carried Marilla down stairs. “Now get 
good and rested,” he said. “It will be a sad 
time. Death always is.” 

Oh, how delightful the beautiful house was! 
They went through to the library where the 
grate fire had been kindled and Marilla drew a 
long, happy breath. Why she felt almost 
well. Jane brought her some hot milk and 
presently spread a dainty little luncheon on 
the library table. They had quite a cheerful 
time and it seemed as if she improved every 
moment. 

Dr. Richards thought he would never get 
through with the office patients this afternoon 
and he was impatient to know what had hap- 
pened. As for his own experiences they must 
be kept to himself for some time. Indeed he 
almost felt as if it was a dream. He had seen 


The Ark of Love 


231 


Marilla only three times since her return. 
First she had gone to the office to report to 
him and let him see what the seaside had done 
for her, then the episode of measles had kept 
her indoors as well as the babies. He had 
met her twice with her precious freight, and 
even on Sundays she had not found time to go 
to Miss Armitage. 

She told the story over to save the child’s 
nerves. “And so the poor old lady has gone. 
Yet I think it hardly fair for you to have to 
wait upon her so much.” 

“Oh then Mrs. Holmes came and she was 
very nice. But as soon as I came in with the 
babies she went out for her walk and Aunt 
Hetty wanted me to read to her. She liked so 
to have me read, and somehow she seemed 
gentler and quite sweet like after she was so 
poorly. I liked it better than being so much 
with the children. They were growing so big 
and strong and wanted to keep tumbling over 
me. It made me so tired sometimes.” 

“Marilla is never going back there,” Dr. 
Richards said decisively. “She isn’t strong 
enough for a nurse girl.” 

“No, she is not going back. I went out 


232 A Modern Cinderella 

awhile ago to see that Mrs. Johnson, but she 
thought the place an excellent one, and that 
it was a bad thing to change girls about, mak- 
ing them dissatisfied everywhere, but I meant 
to bide my time, and find an opportunity. 
Now I think they will be willing to give her 
up as they have a grown-up woman. She 
came while I was there. Dr. Baker told 
them Marilla had a weak heart, and I 
think it startled them. They have no idea 
how hard she has been worked.” 

Oh, he longed to tell her of Manila's good 
fortune. Somehow they must manage to 
share the child between them. She had the 
lovely home and the mother heart, and he 
wanted a home with a sweet little girl in it. 

At Arch street there was a good deal of 
confusion. Cousins and nieces who had called 
only at rare intervals on Mrs. Vanderveer were 
most attentive, suddenly. They did wonder 
between themselves if Aunt Hetty was going 
to leave all her money to John Borden! 

The new nurse, Lizzie by name, was really 
a great eomfort. She took up the babies in 
the morning, bathed and dressed them and 
gave them their breakfast. They still took 


The Ark of Love 


233 


their midday nap but she managed to intro- 
duce some discipline, yet she was not harsh. 
Master Jack stood a little in awe of her. She 
was a good seamstress also. 

So passed the three days and they brought 
Aunt Hetty down in the parlor and put her 
in a fine casket, keeping the doors shut until 
the hour for service. Mrs. Seymour had the 
nurse bring the children in her house. So 
they said prayers reverently, sang some lovely 
parting hymns and laid her away, her long 
life on earth finished. 

The relatives were asked to meet at Mr. 
Borden’s office the next day at ten to hear the 
will read. 

Was ever any will satisfactory where prop- 
erty was divided up into small gifts? Five 
hundred dollars to this one and to that one, 
three hundred apiece to some others. Jack, 
Jr., had five hundred, the babies, three hun- 
dred, and Marilla Bond, three hundred. 

“It was very nice of her in a way,” said Mrs. 
Borden, “but I think one hundred dollars 
would have been remembrance enough for the 
little waiting on she did, and I find Lizzie is of 
much more service than she was. Of course 


234 A Modern Cinderella 

she costs more. I shall go out to the Home 
some day and give her up on account of her 
health. Miss Armitage might as well take 
her. She’ll make a nice little waitress maid. 
And now that the house is clear I feel that we 
needn’t economize so closely. You and John 
get your five hundred with the rest, and she 
gave me her diamond ear rings after we came 
back in the summer. It was smart in her not 
to have John make her will, so none of them 
can say he persuaded her. Well, now we can 
settle ourselves to the next thing.” 


CHAPTER XII 


A WONDERFUL HAPPENING 

Mrs. Borden was surprised that Mrs. John- 
son received back Marilla Bond’s indentures 
with no remonstrance or objection. She cer- 
tainly had not known about this weak heart. 
The child had never been ill, but something 
else might come to hand. She was glad there 
was no other reason and that the little girl had 
proved trustworthy. 

Miss Armitage was also surprised that Mrs. 
Johnson would not agree to an immediate 
transferrence. 

“You may go on keeping her for awhile/’ 
said the lady in a lofty manner. “You may 
tire of her. We will see presently.” 

That was all the permission she could get 
and it was a blow to Miss Armitage. She had 
come to love the child with a fervor she had 
hardly dreamed of and Marilla simply adored 
her. Dr. Richards teased her a little about 
her fortune. She was quite a welcome guest 
at the Bordens and the twins almost devoured 


236 A Modern Cinderella 

her when she came, but poor Bridget was 
nearly heart broken. 

“If 1 had a little girl of my own I could hard- 
ly love her any better, and Marilla Bond, if I 
was a rich woman I'd steal you some day and 
we’d go off to some place in Europe, Paris, 
maybe, and have a beautiful house and ser- 
vants to wait on us and horses and a carriage 
and we’d travel about like grand folks. It 
would be as nice as that night when you went 
to the palace and danced with the Prince, and 
I’d buy you fine clothes and diamonds and I’d 
wait on you hand and foot; I don’t wonder the 
babies loved you. You are the sweetest thing 
the good God ever sent down here!” 

And then Marilla hugged Bridget and kissed 
her and they both cried out of pure love. 

“That Lizzie does very well and don’t 
bother me, but it isn’t like having some one to 
slip up to you with a smile of sunshine that 
warms your heart through and through.” 

Yet it was flattering to be so well loved, but 
she did not want to come back and be a nurse 
maid again. Ah, if she could only stay with 
Miss Armitage! She began to study a little, 
she was so eager to learn. The music en- 


A Wonderful Happening 237 

chanted her and she was delighted to pick out 
tunes with her soft touch. 

“I don’t understand what Mrs. Johnson 
means,” Miss Armitage said to the doctor. 
“I offered to adopt Marilla and educate her 
and see that she was well placed in life. 1 
have no near relatives, and 1 don’t believe 1 
shall ever marry, I like my life as it is, but she 
was so sort of mysterious and secretive and 
declared she could not give an answer at pres- 
ent, as if she had some further plans. I did 
make the most of her having a weak heart — 
you said so and Doctor Baker as well. Oh, do 
you believe there is any real danger?” 

She turned pale at the thought. 

“With care I think she will outgrow it. She 
has lived in an overstrained atmosphere with 
those children. Then it was a dreadful shock 
to have the old lady die that way when she was 
looking for a tender recognition. What hap- 
pened about a fortnight before?” 

“I do not know, I found her unconscious. 
The ladies were out, the old Aunt had a stroke. 
It is such a sweet, promising life, and can be 
developed into something worth while. You 
may think me visionary — ” 


238 A Modern Cinderella 

Oh, why could she not see this other life 
that might be blessed and broadened by her 
love! 

“1 am afraid there is something back of it all 
that I cannot fathom,” she continued. “It 
haunts me. Suppose you were to see this 
Mrs. Johnson. A man can sometimes pene- 
trate plans — ” 

And he was in collusion with Mrs. Johnson, 
keeping the secret from the woman he loved, 
but if there should be some mistake! 

“Yes, I will see Mrs. Johnson,” he said 
slowly. 

A light footfall came down the stairs, and 
Marilla flew to his side. 

“Oh, I thought 1 heard your voice,” and 
both small hands clasped his. “Fairy god- 
mother 1 have spelled all those queer words 
until I can just feel them in my brain. Oh, 
doctor, when I wrote you that letter last sum- 
mer wasn’t some words wrongly spelled? 
You see I had forgotten some things, and I am 
learning so much. I want to stay here, and 
I don’t believe any one else wants me — only 
the babies might.” 

When she glanced up at times it seemed as 


A Wonderful Happening 239 

if the pupil that was so much darker than the 
iris that it flooded it with the tint of the under 
wave that seemed to overflow the crest of the 
swell. They were unusual eyes, changing with 
every emotion. Shejooked quite well again, 
and the lips were rosy. 

“Oh, you don’t?” with a queer little smile. 
“Well the babies can’t have you.” 

“Oh, Bridget thinks if she were rich she 
would run away with me,” and she laughingly 
detailed the woman’s plan for their journeying 
about. 

“If Bridget should get a windfall — servants 
do sometimes, we should have to keep a sharp 
eye on you both, and now I must go.” 

“Can’t he stay to dinner?” She crossed 
over and pressed Miss Armitage’s hand to her 
soft cheek. 

“Why we shall be glad to have him, but you 
must notify Jane and Norah.” 

She returned with the compliments of both. 
While they were waiting for the summons and 
being beguiled with her pleasant chatter he 
was thinking what a charming family group 
they would make. If he only had the old 
fortune! 


240 A Modern Cinderella 

They had an enjoyable time and when they 
returned to the library she begged him to play 
chess. She was so fond of following the 
devious course of the opposing parties. 

“Office calls will not begin until eight,” he 
said and she rolled up the table and brought 
out the beautiful chess men. She was always 
so deft it was a pleasure to watch her. 

He was playing for the white queen; he 
often did. This time he studied his moves 
cautiously. But Miss Armitage had played 
so much with her uncle. Then the telephone 
rang and he went astray. 

She answered it. “For Dr. Richards, a Mr. 
Lorimer was in the office, wanted to see him 
at once. Important; everything was pro- 
gressing finely. Could he not see the little 
heiress that evening?” 

He looked at Miss Armitage in ludicrous 
dismay. 

“What is it?” she asked. 

“Your sin finds you out, doesn’t it?” with 
an amused yet deprecating smile. “I suppose 
I ought to have explained before, but really 
I could hardly believe it would amount to 
anything. Marilla must have come from fairy 


A Wonderful Happening 241 

land to have all these things happen to her. 
May I ask Mr. Lorimer here?” 

“Certainly. You are very mysterious.” 

Dr. Richards went on with the telephone 
talk, giving explicit directions how to find 
Loraine place where they were all assembled, 
and, all anxious to hear his story. Then he 
took both little soft hands in his. 

“What would you say if a real fortune was 
coming to you?” 

“Why there’s Aunt Hetty’s money and that 
will double in fourteen years, Mr. Borden 
said, but I like fairy godmother better than 
any fortune. Come, and go on with the 
game.” 

“No, I must explain to Miss Armitage. 
This was why Mrs. Johnson acted rather 
queer. She was enjoined to silence. And 
the funny thing was she didn’t hah believe 
it.” 

He sat down and placed his arm around 
Marilla, drawing her nearer. Miss Armitage 
had a little jealous pang. 

“On the side of Manila’s mother an old man 
died recently who was nearly a hundred. He 
had a sort of farm and an old house and lived 


242 A Modern Cinderella 

like a hermit with pigs and ducks and chickens. 
He had six children, but they married and 
went off. This is the fourth generation, 
There was no will so they had to find all the 
heirs in order to get a good deed to the prop- 
erty. They traced Mrs. Bond and learned 
she has left a child. They found the woman 
who had kept her, but on her re-marriage she 
had placed the child at Bethany Home, New- 
ton. So Mr. Lorimer, an old chum of mine 
came to this place, as he is a member of the 
firm settling the estate. We went out to the 
Home — ” 

“How long ago?” asked Miss Armitage. 

“Well, something over a fortnight. We 
had a rather difficult time to persuade Mrs. 
Johnson to give up the important papers. 
She is very matter of fact and I suppose has 
heard many a wild story that came to nothing. 
You see she always keeps whatever comes with 
a child until the girl is eighteen, when they 
are given to her. We found old Doctor 
Langdon who could substantiate everything 
and who gave an affidavit, so they were to 
proceed at once to a settlement. The city 
has taken a strip for an avenue extension, and 


A Wonderful Happening 243 

they want a good deed. I heard from Lorimer 
a few days ago, and he said that everything 
was right, that he should be at Newton shortly 
and wanted to see Marilla Bond.” 

“And how much may this wonderful for- 
tune be?” The lady’s tone was slightly sar- 
castic. “They are apt to shrink by payment 
time.” 

“Somewhere about ten thousand, I believe. 
Not enough to make one a millionaire, but it 
will educate her and give her some journeys 
outside of fairy land,” laughing a little. “Per- 
haps fairy godmother won’t send you adrift 
for such an accident,” looking down in the 
wondering eyes. 

“The best fortune of all is fairy god- 
mother.” Marilla went around and kissed 
her, clasped both her hands. 

“When I heard from Lorimer that it was all 
fair sailing I went out and called on Mrs. 
Johnson. Well, you should have seen her! 
She was quite set up on a pinnacle and de- 
clared that she must write out the story. It 
is as well I suppose that Newton should have 
it first hand, and she will take most of the 
glory. The Bordens will be surprised.” 


244 A Modern Cinderella 

There was a touch of awkwardness in the 
silence. Miss Armitage did not take kindly 
to the fortune. She would rather have the 
child owe everything to her. She had plenty 
of money. It would be like a young sister 
growing up beside her, for somehow she felt 
curiously young. Marilla had a simple charm- 
ing grace that would render her very attract- 
ive. Her perfect candor and honesty joined 
with a peculiar fine reticence unusual in a 
child had appealed strongly to Miss Armitage. 
Even her gratitude had a winsome delicacy in 
it, and it would be a gracious work to train her 
in lovely womanly ways through the years to 
come. 

Did the child feel the subtle atmosphere? 

“Fairy godmother, you will always be the 
best thing in my life,” she said in a soft, sweet 
tone. “In the summer when I was wondering 
in that strange country and could not remem- 
ber much, I felt a sweet quiet when you came, 
just as if some one found me and I was safe. 
Oh, I had never loved any one so dearly. I 
saw so little of my own mother and she was 
always tired, fairy godmothers are different.” 

The door bell rang. “That must be Lor- 


A Wonderful Happening 245 

imer,” said Dr. Richards and he reached the 
hall just as Jane opened the door. Miss 
Armitage let him greet his friend before she 
rose. 

“Can’t 1 bring him in here?” asked the 
doctor. 

“Oh, yes.” 

“This room is my ideal, Lorimer. The 
grate fire and the shelves of books give one an 
immediate welcome. And allow me to pre- 
sent you to the presiding genius, Miss 
Armitage.” 

It was indeed a charming home with an 
atmosphere that penetrated one’s soul, and 
they two looked as if they might have been 
born in it, they impressed you as being a 
subtle part of it. It was like a vision as Lor- 
imer was seating himself, and his eyes caught 
the situation of the chess men. 

“Some one made afalsemove,” heexclaimed, 
laughing. 

“Is the white queen in danger? I can’t 
have her taken,” Marilla said breathlessly. 

“Oh, are you on her side? If I had time 
I’d rescue her. I suppose my friend here, the 
doctor, has explained my errand — the rest is 


246 A Modern Cinderella 

— you are the little white queen and I am an 
ogre come to capture you and take you away” 

“But I’m not going,” returned the child. 
“When one has a fairy godmother one is 
enchanted and the evil ogre is powerless.” 

“Oh, is it that way? Then I must sue 
humbly to the power above and present my 
case, for indeed, if you didn’t want your for- 
tune you would stop the wheels of division and 
perhaps be accused of contempt of court — 
which you don’t know a word about. You are 
quite a little heroine with your romantic 
story, and I am charged to bring you into 
court and prove you are Marilla Bond, entitled 
to a slice of this pie they are going to serve.” 

“Are there four and twenty black birds in 
it?” she asked mirthfully. 

“Oh, more than that, but there is no flaw in 
your claim, and I have unearthed a delightful 
relative for you, a cousin of your mother s 
with whom much of her early life was passed. 
After her marriage they seemed to fall apart 
as people often do, and she heard you were all 
dead. She has three charming girls, fourteen, 
eleven and seven. Mrs. Warren made me 
promise to bring you direct to her; she is very 


A Wonderful Happening 247 

anxious to see you and will take good care of 
you.” 

Miss Armitage had a stunned sort of feeling. 
There were relatives who might have a right 
to her. She was no longer a waif for some 
one’s charity. 

“You will bring her back?” she said hur- 
riedly. 

“Oh, of course. They are not likely to make 
her a ward in chancery as if she had a million. 
Dr. Richards will be her guardian, you will 
like that, won’t you?” smiling at her bright- 
eyed watchfulness. 

“I don’t quite know what a guardian is,” 
doubtfully, glancing at her oldest friend, 
“Mr. Borden never spoke of one.” 

“That estate has not been settled yet,” re- 
marked the doctor. “A trustee might answer 
for that.” 

“A guardian is a person appointed to see 
that you have a good home, and do not waste 
your money, but I have heard of guardians 
who wasted it for you. We shall have the 
doctor bound securely, and you must have an 
allowance for clothes and various needs, such 
as ice cream and candy.” 


24S A Modern Cinderella 

Manila laughed then. It seemed amusing 
and very delightful that the doctor should have 
some real right to her. 

“You have never been to New York?” 

“Oh, no!” with a wonder in her tone. 

“Then it will be a great treat. Can she be 
ready by tomorrow morning?” 

“Will she be really needed?” 

Oh, yes, tomorrow is set for the finishing of 
her business; I must get back early. There is 
a big fight on another estate. What an 
amount of litigation money does make! This 
has been clear sailing after we found all the 
heirs and fenced out all those who had no 
claim. Miss Marilla Bond, I congratulate 
you, and I should really like to hear Mrs. 
Johnson on the subject. Were you happy 
there?” 

“I liked it better at Mrs. Borders, but it is 
best here,” she answered. 

They branched off into several amusing 
episodes. Miss Armitage ordered some coffee 
and cake. Lorimer glanced at the chess men. 

“Why were you on the side of the white 
queen?” he asked. 

“Because — because I chose her for Miss 


A Wonderful Happening 249 

Armitage, and nothing must happen to her.” 

Oh! There was an earnest of love in the 
beautiful eyes. She was a charming little 
girl. 

Then they made all arrangements; they 
were to take the 8:10 train. “Could Marilla 
be ready that early in the morning?” 

“Yes,” was the rather reluctant answer. 

They made their adieu. Lorimer thanked 
her for a delightful evening. 

“I suppose it's all settled, old fellow! You 
are lucky with the prospect of such a home and 
such a presiding — shall I call her the goddess 
of the hearth? That room is a perfect gem, 
and you three people are to the manner born.” 

“Not so fast if you please. It is outside of 
my daily life, a place of rest and refreshing 
where a pilgrim may pause now and then.” 

“You two people are in love.” 

“I am, I admit.” 

“Then you are a dolt if you don’t go in and 
win.” 

“I asked her more than a year ago. She 
gave me friendship. We are simply good 
comrades in our work for the world.” 


250 A Modern Cinderella 

“She doesn’t look like a woman whose heart 
is buried in some one’s grave.” 

“She has a foolish, insurmountable reason. 
I am a few years her junior,” he said in a half 
satiric tone. “And I have a reason that es- 
caped me then. She is rich and I am com- 
paratively poor.” 

“Nonsense! There should never be any- 
thing but pure love between the man and the 
woman who are the complement of each other. 
What a fascinating picture you three made! 
And you both love the child. I’m glad she 
is going to have a chance with education. 
With those eyes she ought to be beyond the 
ordinary.” 

“Then she will be in good hands.” 

“A1 — you are an idiot. Some day you will 
rue this shilly-shallying.” 

Dr. Richards’ reply was an unmirthful 
laugh, as if he was not rueing the mischance 
all the time. But he was proud and would 
not go back of his word. 


CHAPTER XIII 


A NEW ATMOSPHERE 

They came back to the sleepy grate fire. 
Miss Armitage said — “You must go to bed 
for you will have to be up early in the morn- 
ing-” 

“I shall only stay a little while,” as if she 
had been musing over her journey. “Fairy 
godmother why don’t you come, too?” 

“Well, you see I was not asked, I am outside 
of all this business.” 

The voice was on the verge of a touch of 
bitterness, though nature and endeavor had 
made it sweet. 

“Why, that’s funny. They did not know 
how much I should want you. I’ll ask the 
doctor in the morning. Oh, I wonder if I 
shall like those little cousins?” 

“No, dear, you must not speak of it. There 
is nothing for me to do. Sometime we will 
go to the city together and have a nice out- 
ing.” 


252 A Modern Cinderella 

“Are you glad the doctor is going to be my 
guardian, and — about the fortune?” 

“You couldn’t have a better one.” 

“Can’t women be guardians? But I’d 
rather have you for a fairy godmother. No 
one else in the whole wide world could be that, 
you know. For the one in the dream wasn’t 
truly alive. I don’t believe she could have 
taken care of a sick body. Oh you are so 
sweet! I love you! love you!” 

Would the child always love her? She was 
coming to the crucial years. She was very 
fond and sincere now, but she had cause to be 
grateful. She knew so little of the world, she 
had a winsome charm that was unfolding every 
day, she would be attractive to others. Jane 
was her fervent admirer, Bridget adored her, 
the babies capered around when they saw her 
in a species of Indian dance. 

Yes, she would win love, she would not be 
dependent on her alone. Would there come 
a time when she would flit from the wing of 
fairy godmother and find her only an ordi- 
nary friend? 

There seemed a sudden dreariness in the 
world like a bright day clouding over. It 


A New Atmosphere 25 

ought not look so to a woman of five and 
thirty with health and prosperity and plenty 
of work that did interest her. Other orphan 
girls might appeal to her to make their lonely 
lives blossom with hope and happiness. 

“Yes, she must let her go with earnest 
wishes for her future. She would rejoice in 
whatever came to her and not ask all the 
fragrance of the sweet young soul. So she 
kissed Marilla a tender good-night. 

There were tears in the child’s eyes when she 
started on her journey. Mr. Lorimer met 
them at the station with a beautiful box of 
chocolates, and there was a pile of illustrated 
papers. She had so little idea of money that 
even now it was not to be weighed in the bal- 
ance with fairy godmother. 

They passed through pretty towns but 
autumn had stripped the gardens of their 
beauty. Even the clumps of evergreens on 
the lawns looked lonesome. She had never 
gone through a gloomy tunnel before and was 
a little frightened. Emerging from it the 
great city filled her with wonder. 

Then they took a hack. Oh, how full of 
everything the streets were, pedestrians dodg- 


j 4 A Modern Cinderella 


mg this way and that, vehicles in a snarl and 
trolleys whizzing by. It was a miracle people 
did not get run over. 

They reached their destination and Lorimer 
ushered them in a sort of ante room, taking 
her to a lady who rose to greet them. 

“And so this is cousin Marion’s little girl 
who has been motherless for years! We heard 
you were dead. If I had known you were 
living I should have come for you. We were 
very dear to each other but on her marriage 
she went away. I can’t see that you resemble 
her much except that she was fair and had 
light curly hair, and how she did hate it!” 
laughed Mrs. Warren. 

“I like it,” rejoined Marilla. 

“And she used to soap it and brush it and 
would never let it really curl; but it was a bed 
of waves. Oh, child! I’m glad to see you. I 
was very fond of your mother, and though 
our fortunes are not very large I suppose we 
can be thankful for them. It was a great 
surprise to me. You’re hardly old enough to 
realize all its benefits.” 

Lorimer went to see when their turn would 
come. Mrs. Warren and the doctor talked 


A New Atmosphere 255 

about Marilla. Then they were summoned 
to a crowded room where men were signing 
papers and there was such a hum of talking 
it was like a swarm of bees. 

Marilla held tightly to Mrs. Warren’s hand. 
Dr. Richards was answering questions and a 
man seemed to verify them from books and 
and papers. They had a corner to themselves. 
Then Marilla was questioned about the Home 
and her being bound-out and she had to de- 
clare she was the same little girl, that her 
mother and father were dead, that she had 
always lived at Newton. 

Then some papers were signed and she was 
taken in a small room which was filled with 
tall cases and a great business desk where sat 
a sharp-eyed man. He wheeled around so 
suddenly that she started. 

“Don’t be frightened,” he said. “Is Dr. 
Richards a relative? Do you live with him?” 

“No, but he had been so good to her when 
Miss Armitage had taken her in so she need 
not go to the hospital. She had been bound- 
out but the family could not take care of her. 
Some one had just died.” 

“Would she like Dr. Richards for her guar- 


256 A Modern Cinderella 

dian? Had any one told her she must have 
him?” 

“Oh, I want him, I love him,” and the 
flood of eager joy in her sweet face answered 
him as truly as the words. 

He was curiously interested and drew her 
out a little further, charmed with her sim- 
plicity. 

Then Doctor Richards had to sign the bond 
and they were dismissed. Mrs. Warren would 
take her home, and her guardian would come 
in the afternoon and take dinner with them 
and meet Mr. Warren. 

There were two trolley rides, then a walk 
from the corner. The house was in a brick 
row up on the East side with a little park op- 
posite, and the river only a block away. 

The basement windows had tall iron bars 
that suggested a prison to the c}iild. They 
ascended the high stoop and the hall door was 
flung open while a chorus of eager voices 
cried— 

“Oh, is this the new cousin?” 

“Yes, Marilla Bond. This is Edith, this 
is May and this is our baby Jessie — ” 


A New Atmosphere 257 

“We were afraid you wouldn’t get here in 
time. We had begun our lunch — ” 

“Run back dears, we will be down in a 
minute.” 

They kissed Marilla with sweet heartiness 
that won her at once. Mrs. Warren took off 
her wrap and hat and they went down. How 
strange it was to have these girls smiling and 
expressing delight. 

“You’re going to keep her, mother?” de- 
clared Edith. 

“Oh yes, as long as her guardian will let her 
stay. You will find her here when you come 
back.” 

“And wasn’t it funny to have a fortune 
drop down on you? Mother could hardly 
believe it at first, and then we were so glad to 
find you.” 

Marilla glanced up with a smile, but she 
wanted to cry for very joy. 

Then they kissed her again and ran off to 
school. 

“Were there any children where you lived?” 

“Not at Miss Armitage’s. That was where 
I was ill. She took me in, but I had to go back 
to Mrs. Borden’s when I was strong enough. 


258 A Modern Cinderella 

And then an old lady died and I fainted again 
and the doctor said it was something with the 
heart, and they had to take a bigger girl. 
Then I went to Miss Armitage again. She is 
so dear and sweet. I want to stay there al- 
ways.” 

“You poor child! You see we were in 
Westerfi New York when your mother died 
and we didn’t hear of it in a long while. We 
should not have let you go to that Home. 
Were they good to you?” 

“Well, you see some of the children were 
not very good, and they only gave you so 
much to eat. Sometimes you felt real hun- 
gry. I tried to be good for I didn’t like to be 
punished,” she said naively. “You had to 
scrub floors and learn psalms, when you didn’t 
get whipped. I liked the hymns, only they 
were not always sweet and pretty, and we 
went in school at nine and had one little recess. 
Then after dinner, and school until four, and 
if you missed you had to stay in. You sewed 
half an hour then and could play out of doors 
until six, then you had supper and went to 
bed.” 

“What kind of sewing was it?” 


A New Atmosphere 259 

“Oh, you hemmed towels and sheets and 
pillow cases, and mended. The little girls 
couldn’t, so you had to look after their things, 
and darn their stockings. On Saturday after- 
noon one of the teachers took you out walking 
but it was in the woods and the country. All 
the girls were so glad when they were twelve 
or almost, so they could get away. Mrs. 
Johnson was very sharp.” 

“And the lady you went to live with?” 

“Oh she was very nice ; and her sister. There 
was a boy of five and twin babies — ” 

“You didn’t have to take care of the 
babies?” 

“Only to play with them and amuse them. 
They were very fat and Mrs. Borden didn’t 
like me to lift them. Then I used to wheel 
them in their carriage. I liked that only when 
it was very cold — or hot. The stores were so 
pretty, and you met other girls. I used to 
read the books in the windows; Jack had lots 
of books. I used to show the pictures to the 
babies and tell them stories and they would 
laugh so, just as if they understood it all. 
They were very good and merry, but it was a 
long while before they could walk, they were 
so fat ” 


260 A Modern Cinderella 


“How did she come to let you go?” 

“It was one very hot day — and somehow I 
was so dreadfully tired all the time, I sat down 
on a stoop — it was a beautiful, shady street 
with great trees, and most everybody had gone 
away. The babies were not very well and a 
little cross. You had to be doing things all 
the while, and — I don’t know what happened, 
but I fell off the stoop and some one picked 
me up and then Miss Armitage who lived op- 
posite came over and had me taken to her 
house and for a long while I just seemed in 
the dark and didn’t know anything. It was 
then that Dr. Richards came. They were all 
so good, and it was like being in heaven. The 
Bordens had gone to Long Island and the 
babies were very sick getting some teeth, and 
they wanted me, I was bound, you know, so 
I had to go as soon as I was well enough. 
Part of it was very nice; the babies could walk 
then. After we came back” — she made a 
little pause for she had not even told Dr. 
Richards Jack’s part in the mishap — “I fainted 
one day. Their old aunt was ill and she wanted 
me, so I went and — it was dreadful — she 
died and I fainted again. Then Miss Armi- 


A New Atmosphere 261 

tage came and took me home with her. Mrs. 
Borden took a new nursemaid, a grown up 
woman and was willing to let me go, and these 
other things happened. Oh, I want to stay 
always with Miss Armitage.” 

“You poor little girl! I think you have had 
a rather hard time. What does Dr. Richards 
say?” 

“The other doctor said I had a weak heart. 
Does that make you faint away? It’s almost 
like dying — you don’t seem to know anything 
for a long while, and it is very hard to get 
back.” 

“You have been worked pretty hard I 
guess.” How simply the child had told her 
story. “But now life will be better. I am 
very glad this little fortune has come to you, 
and now I am going up stairs a few moments, 
and you may look over the books on the table. 
I will soon be back.” 

Instead Marilla looked about the room. 
The front one was the parlor, very nicely fur- 
nished. The back one shut off the end of the 
hall. There were three French windows reach- 
ing to the floor, the last one being a door lead- 
ing out to an enclosed porch with windows 


262 A Modern Cinderella 


that would be very pleasant in summer. 
There was only a small yard with a tiny grass 
plot and an alleyway running through at the 
back. 

There was a big book case in one recess, a 
lounge, a Morris chair and a substantial 
center table containing books and papers. 
It had a home-like, well used look, with several 
cosy rocking chairs. 

Mrs. Warren returned with some sewing and 
without evincing undue curiosity led Marilla 
to talk of her past, though the child really 
knew very little about her mother and seemed 
to have no tender or regretful regard for this 
Mrs. Jaques. But her whole heart went out 
to Miss Armitage in something like worship. 

The girls came home and in a short time 
they were all friends. It seemed odd to them 
that Marilla had never been to a real school. 
Jessie was in the kindergarten, but would 
enter the primary in February. May was 
there and Edith hoped to get in the High 
School another year. Then they carried her 
off to their play room. This was the hall bed- 
room on the next floor. There was a small 
book case, a sort of closet with glass doors 


A New Atmosphere 263 

where playthings were kept and one shelf 
devoted to dolls. Mar ilia stood entranced 
before it. 

“Have you many dolls?" asked May. 

“I never had a doll since my mama died/' 
and there were tears in the child's voice. 

“But at Christmas — didn't you ever get a 
doll?" 

“I was in a home for orphan girls, Mrs. 
Johnson didn't think it was right for girls 
to waste their time on dolls. One Christmas 
some store sent such a beautiful lot and she 
returned them all. Some of us cried and we 
had to learn a lot of bible verses about im- 
proving your time. Occasionally a girl would 
get a clothes pin and tie the middle of her 
handkerchief around the head and play it 
was a baby, and lend it out, then they would 
all get punished. I used to feel so sorry. 
Dolls are so sweet if they are only make be- 
lieve. Where I lived the babies had rubber 
dolls that they could bang on the floor, but 
they were ugly. This one is splendid." 

“That is mine," said Edith. “One of our 
cousins brought it from Paris. It can walk a 
little and say 'Mama.' I'm too big to play 


264 A Modern Cinderella 

with dolls, and I’ve given the others to May 
and Jessie.” 

“And we play tea with them. It is so 
lovely out on the back porch in the summer and 
mother lets us take the things down there. 
And I can make clothes,” said May. “But 
now you can have a doll, because you are 
going to have some money of your very own.” 

“Yes,” she returned slowly. 

There were many pretty things that Marilla 
wondered at. Edith took out her doll and 
put it in the visitor’s arms. It had such a 
lovely face that Marilla hugged it up tight and 
wanted to kiss it. Why it was fifty times 
sweeter than the twins. 

Then they led her to their room. There 
were two pretty brass beds. 

“Edith has the smaller one because she 
sleeps alone,” explained May, “and we little 
ones love to sleep together.” 

There were two chiffoniers, and a big closet 
between the rooms, two pretty willow rockers 
and some lovely pictures beside various small 
gifts one could hang up or stand around. 
How charming it was! 

Edith said she must go and study her les- 


A New Atmosphere 265 

sons. May brought out her pretty dishes and 
her card albums. One was partly full of such 
pretty kittens Marilla wanted to hug them. 
Another was Christmas, Easter and birthday 
cards. 

Marilla gave a soft little sigh. How many 
precious things she had missed out of her life! 
And though she could not have put it into 
words it was the tender companionship of 
childhood, of kindred tastes and eager loves. 
In the desert of Bethany Home all these 
emotions had been rigorously repressed. It 
was best for girls not to expect too much in the 
homes of other people, the little Cinderella 
whose place was in the chimney corner. 

“Marilla,” called the voice of Mrs. Warren, 
in a sort of joyous tone, “Dr. Richards has 
come.” 

She almost flew down stairs and he clasped 
her in his arms. 

“I am so happy,” she cried in a voice trem- 
ulous with emotion. “It seems such a long, 
long while since morning so much has hap- 
pened, and Mrs. Warren is to be my Aunt 
Grace, she said so, and I have three cousins!” 

Her face was alight with happiness. 


266 A Modern Cinderella 


“I wonder if you would get homesick if we 
did not go back to Newton until some time 
next week?” 

“Oh, no. I shouldn’t get homesick at all! 
But I couldn’t stay away from fairy godmother 
a bug while. If I didn’t have her, Aunt 
Grace would take me, and the girls are just 
splendid!” 

“I’ve been to a hospital this afternoon and 
I want to learn some new things to take home 
with me, so I will write. You must write, too. 
I’ve brought you some envelopes addressed and 
stamped. Why do you smile?” 

“I was thinking of the letter I wrote to you 
in the summer, and I had to beg everything to 
write with, and Edith has such a nice portable 
writing desk, and the girls have portfolios, 
and they all go to school. Oh, it must be 
splendid to go to school with a crowd of nice 
girls and have a lovely teacher.” 

She had been leading him through the par- 
lor. Mrs. Warren met them and he went 
on in the sitting room, apologizing for his 
early appearance. 

“Oh, I want you to come in and see your 
ward whenever you can, and I shall beg for 
quite a visit from her.” 


A New Atmosphere 267 

“That will suit me. I feel that I have 
grown a little rusty and want to look into some 
new methods. What a wonderful city it is! 
It quite shames a country doctor.” 

“I suppose so,” smiling. “You should come 
in often. Mr. Warren will be home presently 
and glad to meet you. Will you excuse me a 
few moments? This is my eldest daughter, 
Edith.” 

“And can’t the others come?” asked Ma- 
nila. 

“Why, yes, if you like.” 

Dr. Richards was used to children. He 
thought he liked girls the best, and this was 
an attractive circle. How Marilla was en- 
joying it. Her eyes quivered with flashes of 
pleasure. Yes, children needed other chil- 
dren to start the real flow of delight through 
their veins, and his little Cinderella did not 
suffer by comparison. 

Mr. Warren came in and welcomed his 
guest cordially, looking over the little girl 
about whom they had speculated. She was 
very attractive just now, with her face of 
sunshine and her eyes with their starry look 
under the long curling lashes. 


268 A Modern Cinderella 


The men had to discuss the queer unex- 
pected fortune. The Warrens had been no- 
tified nearly a year before. 

“But I hadn’t much faith in it,” laughed 
Mr. Warren. “My wife had really forgotten 
her family lineage, and we should hardly have 
claimed the Schermerhorns. There’s so much 
red tape in these matters and by the time the 
expenses are paid, there’s little left for the 
heirs, but this turns out better than I supposed, 
considering the many descendants the old 
man had. I can’t complain of the lawyers.” 

“And we were very glad to find Marion’s 
child, though I wish I had known it when her 
mother died. Do you want to keep her at 
Newton?” 

“I think Miss Armitage has some claims,” 
he returned. 

“And I feel as if we ought to make up for 
our negligence.” 

The children were in a little huddle on the 
corner of the sofa. What was Newton like? 
A real city? 

“Why there are some beautiful long streets 
and stores and churches and a park and rows 
of houses built together like this, and schools 
and trolleys — ” 


A New Atmosphere 269 

“Why it must be a city then?” said Edith. 
“Has it a mayor and a city hall and a post- 
office?” 

“It has a mayor and a postoffice and a court 
house. Mr. Borden used to talk of going 
there.” 

“It is a very old town,” explained the guar- 
dian, “dating farther back than the Revolu- 
tion, yet it was not much of a business center 
until the last thirty years; but it is very pretty 
and rather aristocratic.” 

“Children,” said their mother, “go and make 
yourselves ready for dinner.” 

“What lovely curly hair,” exclaimed May, 
half in envy. “I wish mine curled.” 

“But you have two such beautiful braids.” 
“Jessie’s curled a little but it was so thin 
mother kept cutting it. Dear me! You 
wouldn’t catch me soaping and brushing the 
curl out of it if mine curled,” declared May. 

They had a rather merry time at dinner and 
the children did not seem a bit afraid to talk, 
though they were not aggressive. But Dr. 
Richards thought his little ward compared 
very favorably with the others. Her dainti- 
ness suggested Miss Armitage, he fancied. 


270 A Modern Cinderella 

They sat a long while over their dessert of 
fruit and nuts, and then the guest said he 
would have to go as he wanted to attend a 
lecture by an eminent surgeon. He would be 
in tomorrow morning. 

“I thought I would take Marilla out shop- 
ping with me. Come in to dinner again 
and spend the whole evening.” 

Dr. Richards promised to. 

The others went up to the sitting room. 
Mr. Warren took possession of the big Morris 
chair, May had one knee, Jessie the other and 
Edith seated herself on the broad arm and 
placed her arm over her father’s shoulder. 
They always exacted an hour of their father 
and he gave it with the utmost fondness. 

“And here is a place for you, little Marilla,” 
he said. “Now the chair is full. I’ve won- 
dered sometimes if Edith wouldn’t tip us 
over.’ 

“I’d have to be as fat as Auntie Belle to do 
that,” she laughed, “and now papa I want 
Marilla to tell you about a queer Home she 
was put in where they wouldn’t let the little 
girls have dolls nor playthings, and they 
made dollies out of clothes pins and had to 
hide them.” 


A New Atmosphere 271 

“That was cruel to little girls. Why they 
have dolls by right and no one should prevent 
them. Didn’t you play any?” 

“Oh yes, out of doors, tag and Uncle John 
and Scotland’s burning, and Lady Jane, and 
Ring around a Rosy; and then in summer you 
had to pull weeds in the garden. When it 
rained you had to march in doors, but if you 
tried to dance a little you had to go and sit 
down. Oh, they were very strict.” 

“And what else did you do?” 

“All the bigger girls made the beds and 
twice a week brushed up the floors, and every 
little while you went in the kitchen for a week 
and helped with the cooking so you would 
know how to work. When you were twelve 
they bound you out and you had to stay until 
you were eighteen.” 

“But didn’t you study any? 

“Oh, yes, there was school every day.” 

“And did you get bound-out?” 

“Yes.” She flushed a little. 

“But you did not stay?” 

“Oh, tell papa about the babies,” cried 
Edith. 


272 A Modern Cinderella 

“And did you ever notice the Campbell's 
soup little girl with her round eyes?" 

“Who gets fat on eating soup? Yes," and 
he laughed. 

“They looked something like that," said 
Marilla. “They were so fat and they had such 
round eyes, and you could make them laugh 
so easily. I went to take care of them and 
amuse them, but they were so good, they 
hardly ever cried, and I used to ride them 
round — they had such a beautiful wagon! 
But sometimes it seemed so heavy, it had to 
be big, you know, and then there was Jack. 
He wasn't very good, but after awhile he went 
to kindergarten." 

“But how did you get away if you were 
bound?" 

She told the story very simply and how a 
lovely lady took her in and she was ill a long 
while, and she knew this was a fairy god- 
mother, so she always called her that, 
because" — 

“Because what?" 

“It was a curious dream I had. Bridget 
said it was a dream; but it seemed so real, and 
I was Cinderella." 


A New Atmosphere 273 

“Oh, do tell us!” they pleaded. 

“‘I am afraid it’s silly,” and she flushed. 

“Cinderella is lovely, and did you see the 
Prince?” 

They all looked so eager that she was per- 
suaded. So she began by sitting in the corner 
of the kitchen and they listened as if they were 
enchanted. She was so vivid it seemed as if 
her face was transfigured. Mrs. Warren 
dropped her sewing and bent forward. 

Edith drew a long breath and squeezed the 
new cousin’s hand. “Oh” she cried, “it’s 
lovelier than the real Cinderella, and you 
danced with the Prince? Can you dance — 
truly?” 

“Oh, yes, after that, I used to dance for 
Bridget. Mrs. Johnson wouldn’t let you, she 
thought it wicked. It’s queer how people 
think about things, and I danced for the ba- 
bies. Mrs. Borden and her sister went to 
dancing parties; they didn t think it wrong. 
It’s so beautiful.” 

“Our cousins Isabel and Charlie Firth go to 
dancing school. Mother thinks I may go next 
winter. They are teaching it in some schools . ” 

“Children,” said Mrs. Warren, “do you 


274 A Modern Cinderella 

know what time it is? You must go to bed. 
Marilla you have betwitched us all. And 
papa will have hardly time to read his paper. 
Come. Marilla will not run away, so you can 
have her tomorrow night.” 

Mr. Warren kissed all the little girls and 
they trooped off. 

“You may sleep on the lounge in my room, 
Edith, and give Marilla your bed, I can’t send 
her up stairs alone, and now you must not say 
a word after your prayers for I know she is 
clear tired out.” 

They were generally very good children to 
mind. Their mother left them with a good- 
night kiss. Mr. Warren had rolled his chair 
nearer the center table and taken up his 
paper. 

“Mother,” he exclaimed, “that Marilla is an 
unusual child. How beautifully she describes 
everything, but the sweetest trait about her 
in her utter lack of bitterness. Most chil- 
dren would have been sharp and disparaging 
about Mrs. Johnson, but she never uttered a 
bitter word. It really was wonderful. I 
hope that Dr. Richards will give her a first- 
class education, and I’d like to see that fairy 


A New Atmosphere 275 

godmother. Marilla needs good care, she 
isn't very strong, but there is happiness in 
every pulse of her small body. I wish we could 
keep her." 

The next morning the children had to kiss 
her half a dozen times before they went to 
school, and make her promise over and over 
again that she would not let Dr. Richards 
take her home. While Mrs. Warren was do- 
ing up her morning's work Marilla wrote her 
letter to Miss Armitage, who smiled over the 
thrill of delight that ran through it. Aunt 
Grace was so sweet and lovely and she couldn't 
describe the girls for she didn't know any 
words that were beautiful enough and good 
enough to apply to them. Jessie was a real 
little beauty with the most wonderful eyes 
that were like brown velvet and sunshine, and 
she didn't know father's could be so sweet as 
Uncle Warren. Maybe Mr. Borden would 
love the twins that way when they grew older. 
They might be prettier then. But her dear 
fairy godmother lived in her mind all the 
time, she wanted her to see and hear every- 
thing. There would be so much to tell her 
that she couldn't write. 


276 A Modern Cinderella 

It was a wonderful day to Marilla. Such 
splendid stores and gowns that were fit for 
queens. Such beautiful dishes and jewelry, 
such stacks of books; and, oh, such dolls holding 
out their hands with a pleading look in their 
eyes. She could hardly tear herself away. 
Was she too big to have a doll? 

Then they went into a cozy place and had a 
dainty lunch, only it did seem as if Marilla 
was too happy to eat. If fairy godmother 
were only here! 

Afterward they went to the Eden Musee. 
You had to ride from place to place; why, it was 
full of strange people who never stirred. They 
could not be dead! What was the matter 
with them? The wonder in her eyes made 
Mrs. Warren smile. Some were funny, too; 
you wanted to laugh with them. Marilla sat 
down in perfect despair as if she had gone to 
some strange country. 

“I don’t see how they can make them just 
like folks,” she said. “You feel almost sure 
they are going to speak to you.” 

A very tired little girl it was who came home, 
but it was such a pleasant, happy tired she 
didn’t mind. It wasn’t like dragging the 


A New Atmosphere 277 

heavy babies around. Aunt Grace made her 
lie down on the lounge and the girls gathered 
round her talking it over. They had been 
several times. 

Then Dr. Richards came in and they had 
such a delightful time. Why the whole 
world of pleasure was fairy land when you 
come to think of it. “And there’s the Hippo- 
drome/’ said Edith. “Oh mother don’t you 
believe father could take us on Saturday?” 

“And couldn’t I go, too?” 

The doctor asked in such a whimsical tone 
that they all laughed. Jessie sidled up to 
him, she was well so she need not be afraid of 
a doctor. She was very sweet but she wasn’t 
quite Cinderella. 

What a fine evening they had! It seemed 
as if they must have known each other for 
years. Bits of Manila’s life came out un- 
consciously; the doing for others without 
thinking of herself that really did glorify it. 
Unwittingly she showed more of it to Dr. 
Richards than she had ever before in her grat- 
itude. Under the children’s questions some 
of the trials came out. 

Every morning she wrote to Miss Armitage 


2 78 A Modem Cinderella 

out of her full heart, and the lady understood 
how she would thrive in natural companion- 
ship. Almost she felt as if she ought to yield 
her to these relatives, but she wanted her. It 
was strange how she had left her impress every- 
where yet she was a very modest little girl, 
demanding nothing, taking all favors with a 
gratitude that was fascinating. Jane re- 
hearsed so many pretty sayings and missed 
her everywhere. Bridget came around to 
hear whether the story of the fortune was 
absolutely true. The Bordens could harldy 
believe it. Mr. John Borden wished they had 
not let her go quite so soon. “She certainly 
was a nice child,” he said. 

They went to the great stores and to Central 
Park, and Marilla overflowed with happiness. 
Why it was like the fairy dream, and she 
wished the girls at the Home could have some 
of it, or could find a fairy godmother. There 
were so many things to interest the doctor. 
How the days did slip away and all the time 
Marilla grew sweeter, dearer; but at last he 
said they must go home. 

“Oh, how can we let you go?” cried Edith. 
“Why I do believe you came from fairy land 


A New Atmosphere 279 

yourself; but now you'll come and visit us 
often." 

“And you can come to Newton. Fairy 
godmother has such a lovely house, and she 
is so sweet. You will like her." 

Oh, the child ought not be on sufferance 
but have the genial freedom of a home of her 
very own where she could live over the child- 
hood she had missed and learn the glad in- 
spiration of youth. 

What did Miss Armitage mean to do for 
her? Yes, she wanted her; why there would 
be a great loss in life without her, but she no 
longer needed charity. She could not do 
everything for her; as she had planned. Would 
she share a divided interest? 

Dr. Richards heart yearned over her, covet- 
ed her. Marilla had crept in and taken pos- 
session of his inmost soul. It was not likely 
there would be any other occupant. For he 
had never seen any sign of relenting on Miss 
Armitage's part. They were excellent friends. 
Neither overstepped the prescribed bounds, 
and he must have something to love and to 
cherish. 

But he had to tear himself away presently, 


280 A Modern Cinderella 


and he carried her with him in his heart, and 
the next morning he dropped in and had her 
all to himself. Mrs. Warren had gone to the 
dressmakers. 

“Oh,” Marilla said with a long sigh of de- 
light, “how lovely it is to have sisters! and — 
and a father! If I couldn’t have but one I 
think I’d take the father. Isn’t Mr. Warren 
just splendid and sweet and charming? There’s 
a book of poems at Miss Armitage’s that has 
one such beautiful thing — The Children’s 
Hour.’ And they have it here. The hour 
after dinner if there are no visitors belongs to 
the children. The smaller ones take posses- 
sion of his lap and Edith sits on the arm of the 
chair. I sat on the other,” and she laughed 
with such a happy sound. “And they tell 
him everything, what they have read and 
studied, and the little troubles and differences 
and perplexities, and he listens and explains 
and laughs with them when it is funny, and 
everything is so nice. I didn’t suppose fath- 
ers could be so dear and sweet, but I never 
knew any real father except Mr. Borden, and 
Jack was a torment. He wanted to pound 
and bang and wrinkle up things and ask silly 


A New Atmosphere 281 

questions. Maybe the twins will be different, 
and perhaps he will love girls the best.” 

“And you would like to have a father?” 
There was a subtle sweetness in his tone. 

She drew a long breath, he felt the heart 
quiver irregularly, the little heart that would 
need careful watching the next few years, that 
so far had been worked pretty hard. 

“Oh, so much!” There was an exquisite 
longing and a sound as of a prayer, “but you 
know I’d want some one I could love.” 

She was ready to give, not take all. 

“Mariha, would I do?” 

She raised her head and looked at him out 
of longing, pleading eyes that turned joyous 
like a sudden glowing sunrise. 

“Oh!” she cried, “Oh!” 

But the wonderful satisfying intonation 
would have moved any heart. 

“And I want a little girl,” he continued. 
“1 shaU never have one of my very own;” — 
it is the way a man thinks when he knows he 
cannot have the woman he would choose for 
the mother of his children. 

She was silent. He saw the shining tears 
beading the curly lashes. She was sorry for 
him. 


282 A Modern Cinderella 


“And if you could be my little girl — ” 

“Oh, if 1 might!” and the longing freighted 
her tone. “If 1 could be good enough — if I 
could love you enough, Oh, I would try. I 
should be so happy. To have a father of one's 
own!” 

“Children are sometimes adopted.” 

“Yes, they were at Bethany Home, but 
they had to be very pretty, I'm not — very.” 

“But I love you because you are you , I don't 
want you changed any way. I want a daugh- 
ter to be a companion as I grow older, to read 
to me, to confide in me, to come to me in any 
trouble, to make a real home, for a man alone 
cannot do that, and to love me very, very 
dearly.” 

“I have always loved you,” she said simply. 
Then after a moment — “would I live with 
you?” 

“Yes, when I have found a pretty home, 
and you will make friends and have them 
visit you, and we will take journeys and have 
pleasures like the Warrens.” 

“Oh! How good you are!” in a tone of 
tremulous joy. There was a little twinge of 
conscience in both hearts concerning Miss 


A New Atmosphere 283 

Armitage. He salved his, thinking if she had 
wanted to she might have made some proffer 
of adoption. Marilla hardly knew how to 
choose between them. If they could both go 
and live in Loraine place! 

“HI see Lorimer this afternoon. You have 
to apply to the legislature, and you will have 
your name changed to Richards. Maybe the 
judge or some will one question you whether 
you are willing to take me for a father, since 
you are old enough to choose, and there are 
several formalities, but the thing is often done, 
and you will be mine, mine,” pressing her to 
his heart in rapture. 

“I am so glad.” Every pulse throbbed 
with joy. 

He yielded to the subtle satisfaction and 
kissed the sweet mouth. Oh, he must get 
her strong and well and give her a lovely, 
long life! Like a vision he could see her 
growing sweeter and dearer every year, mak- 
ing life blossom with her love. 

Then Mrs. Warren returned and the girls 
came home to lunch, having a merry time 
talking over the Hippodrome. 

“Nearly every Saturday papa takes us 


284 A Modern Cinderella 

somewhere,” said May. “There are some 
beautiful plays for children and concerts and 
all summer the park is splendid, though you 
can always go inside and there is so much to 
see; and an automobile ride! Oh, I wish you 
were going to live here!” 

There were so many pleasures to give his 
little girl. It made his heart beat with joy to 
think he was going to have one. Life had 
seemed a bit lonely as he glanced down the 
years. It would never be lonely now. He 
would take such pleasure in making her happy. 

“Yes,” he went on. . I’ll get a pretty home 
and we will always be together.” 


CHAPTER XIV 


THE REAL FAIRYLAND 

That evening the two cousins on the Warren 
side came in, Isabel and Willis Firth. Isabel 
was just the age of Edith and Willis, older. 
The children gave up their hour cheerfully. 
There was so much to talk about, and the 
school was going to have an entertainment — 
“The Dance of All Nations.” 

“1 suppose not quite all” said Isabel, 
“though the boys are to give an Indian dance 
in costume, and the Dutch dance is in clogs, 
and oh, you can’t imagine how funny and 
clumpy it sounds, but it is real pretty with the 
aprons and the caps, but the Spanish is beau- 
tiful with castanets. You must all come. 
Is your friend staying long?” 

“I think” — rather hesitatingly, “we will go 
home next week.” 

“Oh, that will be too bad, and the dance 
is to be two weeks from tomorrow, in the af- 
ternoon, in a hall. It will be splendid!” 

“I suppose this is the little cousin who came 


286 A Modern Cinderella 


after the fortune/’ said Willis, isn’t it nice to 
have a fortune left to you?” 

“I hardly know” — hesitatingly. 

“Oh my! I’d know quick enough,” laughed 
the boy. “Isabel wouldn’t it be fine enough 
to have ten or twelve thousand left to us? 
I’d be sure of going to college.” 

“The University ought to be good enough 
for city boys,” said Uncle Warren. 

They played authors for a while “because 
they could talk” Willis said. Then Aunt 
Warren played for them to dance. At first 
Marilla hesitated. 

“Oh, it’s only three-step” exclaimed Edith. 
“I’ll show you, and if you danced at the 
King’s ball”— 

She found she could dance easy enough. It 
was quite delightful. Her eyes were bright, 
her cheeks like roses. 

Then they tried several other pretty dances, 
and spiced them with much laughter. Oh, how 
gay they were. 

“Who was it said something about the 
King’s ball?” asked Willis. “Was it a make 
believe?” 

“Oh it is the prettiest thing!” replied Edith. 


The Real Fairyland 287 

“You see, Cousin Marilla sat alone in the 
kitchen one night when the maid had gone out 
and a fairy godmother came and asked her 
if she didn’t want to go to the ball. Finding 
her in the kitchen you see she took her for 
Cinderella, and she touched her with her 
wand — now Marilla, go on, 1 couldn’t tell it 
hah as delightfully as you do; you make it so 
real.” 

Manila’s face had been scarlet at first, for 
she was almost ashamed of being a little 
bound-out girl before these newcomers, but 
Edith had started it so beautifully that she 
smiled at her audience. » 

“Let’s sit on the floor,” said Willis. “That’s 
the way they do in Persia, and Aunt Grace 
never finds fault with us.” 

They gathered around the little girl. Even 
Uncle Warren laid down his paper and joined 
the circle. And what an attentive audience! 

“Well that’s just fine!” ejaculated Willis. 
“I’ve never seen just such a Cinderella, and 
there wasn’t any glass slipper?” 

“Don’t interrupt,” said his sister. 

It was all so vivid and Marilla made such 
pretty gestures with her hands and swayed 


288 A Modern Cinderella 


her head to and fro, that they could fairly see 
the palace, and the banquet was superb with 
its lights and flowers and beautiful adorn- 
ments. 

“And couldn’t they dance but just one 
evening with the Prince? That was rather 
tough.” 

“But there was so many knights and the 
Cinderellas seemed just as happy. No one 
was cross.” 

“Well, that was wonderful! Oh, didn’t 
you hate to wake up?” 

“I don’t believe I did really wake up, and 
every night for awhile I seemed dreaming it 
over, and I can shut my eyes and see it so 
plainly. When things didn’t go quite right 
it was such a pleasure.” 

“Oh, you’re a darling!” cried Isabel. “I 
just wish the kindergarten children could hear 
it told that way. If you were a grown-up girl 
they’d pay you for telling stories.” 

“Aunt Grace can’t you bring her around and 
let mother hear that?” asked Willis. “My 
mother is so fat she hates to go out anywhere,” 
to Marilla. “She thinks it disgraceful! But 
she’s a sweet mother for all that; and now we 


The Real Fairyland 289 

must go home. Thank you a hundred times 
for the story. When I have my party I shall 
send for you and dance with you every other 
time. You ought to be named Cinderella.” 

She looked so bright and happy and prom- 
ised to visit them if Dr. Richards did not take 
her home too soon. 

But the Hippodrome was beyond any 
dream. Sometimes she held her breath with 
delight until she was fairly tired. Dr. Rich- 
ards watched the sweet, changeful face. Yes, 
she should be all his — why he had never 
dreamed of anything half as sweet as the joy 
of a father. 

Sunday afternoon he and Mr. Lorimer came 
in. The girls had gone to Sunday School. 
He laid his plan before the Warrens who were 
a good deal surprised. 

“As a man grows older he begins to think of 
a home and the joys nothing else offers, and 
a doctor really needs the comfort, the satis- 
faction nothing else can give. IVe never had 
a home though IVe dreamed of one, but there 
must be another person in it. I’m not of the 
hermit sort. I want some one to be merry 
with me and to comfort me when the skies are 
dark and lowering.” 


290 A Modern Cinderella 

“Oh, Dr. Richards, you should marry, ex- 
claimed Mrs. Warren, impetuously. 

“I’ve been so engrossed — and this sort of 
vision has come to my very door as it were, 
and I have let it in. For a few years Marilla 
will need watchful care from some one who 
can understand the weak points. I should get 
a nice, motherly woman who would be sweet 
and tender to her, companionable as well. 
For you see she must go to some one for a 
home.” 

“And we would gladly take her in here,” said 
Mrs. Warren. “She has really won our 
hearts.” 

We would do Miss Armitage full justice, 
at least he thought it so then. He related her 
kindness, her generosity, but she had been 
tender and sympathetic to many another 
child he remembered, yet he could not quite 
still the one cry he had heard from her. 

“Thank you most sincerely,” he returned. 
“I am glad she has found some relatives who 
have taken her in in this cordial manner. I 
want her to remain warm friends with you all. 
Of course until I was settled to my liking her 
home would be with Miss Armitage and she 


The Real Fairyland 291 

could come whenever you would like to have 
her. A young girl needs friends of her own 
kind, whose interests and hopes are similar.” 

They discussed the matter from more than 
one point of view. At first Lorimer had tried 
to banter him out of the plan, insisting that the 
guardianship would be sufficient. There was 
something in his earnest desire that touched 
the heart of the man of wide experience. He 
wondered why he could not be as persistent 
to win the lady! Perhaps she would follow 
the child. 

She came in radiant and full of joy. It was 
such a splendid Sunday School. She could 
enjoy it thoroughly with no bothering Jack to 
think about. 

Lorimer made his adieu but the doctor re- 
mained. They sang in the evening. She 
caught any tune so readily, and a little bird of 
joy kept time in her heart. She had only to 
glance up in the doctor’s eyes to know there 
was a kindred delight in his. 

She spent most of the next morning writing 
to fairy godmother. There was so much to 
say, for everything was so new, so different 
from her life hitherto. Oh, she was so glad 


292 A Modern Cinderella 

she did not have to go back to that! No one 
had been really unkind or severe with her and 
she could recall some tenderness at the last 
on Aunt Hetty’s part, but the death always 
made her shudder. 

These days of affliction had been so sweet, so 
engrossing. She had not dared to love Miss 
Armitage in this fashion in the beginning. 
She loved her deeply, truly, now, and her heart 
smote her in spite of the thrill of joy when she 
thought of Dr. Richard’s love, of belonging to 
him. Would she leave her for the new love? 
She had not the courage to mention it, but 
there were so many other things to say. 

Every day brought something new. They 
went to the wonderful museum. She could 
not take in half, but Dr. Richards said no one 
could. You came time and again, all your 
life, and always found something new. And 
there were the Histo ical Society rooms with 
their marvellous collection of birds that en- 
chanted her. 

They spent a delightful evening at the 
Firths, though she decided she liked Uncle 
Warren the better. The Firth house was very 
handsomely appointed, but it did not have so 


The Real Fairyland 293 

much the air of home where you could sit on 
the arm of the chair and say all manner of 
childish things. 

Mrs. Firth was very stout, but she had a 
really pretty face and a voice that won you 
with a certain caressing mellowness. Both 
cheeks had a deep dimple and a crease went 
from one to the other that seemed to define 
the first chin. She sat in a high backed chair 
and Marilla thought she looked like a princess, 
and her gown made the child think of the 
beautiful dresses in the fairy place. 

But on Friday Dr. Richards said they must 
go back to Newton. They would come again 
however, there was still a little business to 
settle. It was a sad parting, and when Ma- 
rilla took her seat in the train she turned her 
face to the window and surreptitiously wiped 
away the tears, though she longed to see fairy 
godmother. 

The hack whirled them to Loraine place. 
The great trees stood like sentinels stretching 
out their bare limbs. The beautiful autumn 
had gone, you noted it more here. Up the 
stoop — how her heart beat, and yet some- 
how she seemed as if she had lived another 
lifetime. 


294 A Modern Cinderella 

“Oh dear, dear Marilla,” cried Jane with 
the warmest embrace. “We have missed you 
so much and are so glad to get you back. 
Why it hasn’t seemed the same house, and 
everybody has wanted you. Dr. Richards, 
that Mrs. McCormick died this morning and 
Miss Armitage was there until noon. Five 
little children left, think of it, she came home 
and went straight to bed, but she’s had a cup 
of tea and will be down in a few minutes. 

They entered the parlor. Marilla took off 
her hat and coat, it was so warm indoors. 
She had on a new frock, a curious blue that 
was very becoming. Her cheeks were a 
lovely pink, her eyes full of expectancy. 

Miss Armitage came down the back stair- 
way and through the library. Marilla gave 
one cry and was in her arms. 

No one had won her away, then. During 
these days she had had many thoughts about 
the child’s future. She had felt jealous of the 
new found relatives and their love, of Dr. 
Richards’ devotion, of the happy times when 
she had been counted out. Work had failed 
to inspire, evenings had been lonely, dreary. 
Oh, she would never let her go away again 








Oh, fairy godmother! I wanted you so. 




1 1 _ T» 




i 


c\r\ w \ 



The Real Fairyland 295 

unless she went with her. She would beseech 
the law to make the child hers — 

“Oh, fairy godmother !” The charming, 
joyous tone that showed the child's certainty 
of a warm welcome. “It has all been so 
lovely, but I wanted you so. I wanted you to 
see the girls and their father who is the love- 
liest, no not quite the loveliest," and her eyes 
shone with a tender radiance, the flush made 
her beautiful. “For, fairy godmother, I have 
a father now who will love me and care for me, 
and I am filled to the brim with happiness — 
it is better than the fortune. I could hardly 
wait to tell you. Oh, please be glad for my 
sake." 

“A father?" she repeated, in a breathless 
tremulous sort of way. 

“Yes," said Dr. Richards, and there was a 
strange sort of assurance in his tone. He 
seemed to have changed mysteriously — there 
is a vigor, a power and withal a sweet satisfac- 
tion in his face that gives her a pang she does 
not understand. 

“Yes," he repeated. “The fortune is all 
right. I have been made her guardian, but 
that did not satisfy me. I have taken out 


296 A Modern Cinderella 

papers of adoption, she is my child, my little 
little daughter and she has a new, legal, lawful 
name — Marilla Cinderella Richards.” 

“Oh, oh!” The pathetic cry unnerved him. 

“Dear fairy godmother it can’t make any 
difference in my love for you. I loved you 
first, you know. I shall always love you, but 
I want us to live together and be as happy as 
they are at the Warrens, and I love him, my 
new father, so much. When you have some- 
thing of your very own it fills you everywhere 
like beautiful music. I’ve been learning how 
sweet and dear it can be. Oh, fairy godmother, 
I want you both. It would break my heart 
to lose either of you. Oh, fairy godmother, 
can’t you love him ; can’t you, won’t you marry 
him and let us all live together?” 

There was a penetrating sweetness in the 
pleading, but she saw the red of surprise mount 
to the very edge of the man’s hair, and almost 
a frown settle between the eyes. Her face 
dropped to the silken soft head and she felt the 
child’s heart beat tumultuously. To make the 
two who loved her happy — to have them for 
her own 

She reached out her hand — it was her right 


The Real Fairyland 297 

hand. He caught it and pressed it to his lips 
with a fervor that thrilled every pulse of her 
being. 

It was not the tie of kindred blood, but that 
divine immortal kindred of love, and as he 
clasped his arms about them both they were 
Father, Mother and Child. 

And so, Marilla had not only the Fairy God- 
mother, but the Prince as well. 



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